Rice, Farris, 132
Rice, George C., 177
Richey, Ralph D., 257, 261
Ridgway, Matthew, 119, 242
Riggs, Carl, 105
Ritsema, Jan, 295
Robbins, Woodrow, 72, 104
Roberts, Murray, 38, 105
Roe, Eugene, 181, 188, 235
Rogers, Paul, 69, 75, 282
at Foy, 188
promotion of, 112
wounding of, 128
Rommel, Erwin, 58, 91
Roosevelt, Franklin D., 254–55
Rosenheim, 265
ROTC, 15
Ruhr, 245, 246, 255
Russian front, 219
Saalfelden, 285
St. Côme-du-Mont, 63, 89, 90
Ste. Marie-du-Mont, 62–63, 73, 77, 86, 87
Ste. Mère-Eglise, 63, 73, 75, 76, 90
St. Vith, 176
Salzburg, 264, 265
Samaria, 43–44
Sampson, Francis, 103
Saverne, 236–37
Schmitz, Raymond, 64–65, 70
Schuschnigg, Kurt von, 265
Schwarzkopf, H. Norman, 295
searchlights, 227, 230
2d Armored Division, French, 265–66
2d Armored Division, U.S., 101
Second Army, British, 120
2d Battalion Headquarters Company, 15, 28, 62, 226
basic training of, 28–29
in liberation of Son, 124–25
Webster and, 110–11
2d Battalion of 506th, 39, 120, 226
in Austria, 274
basic training of, 27
on D-Day, 79
formation of, 17–18
in Germany, 265–67
in liberation of Son, 124–25
in march to Atlanta, 28–29
in Normandy invasion, 77, 78, 87, 89, 92, 94
officers of, 15–16, 38
physical training of, 18–22, 25–29, 30, 33, 37, 39
2d Panzer Division, German, 179
self-inflicted wounds, 187
Services of Supply, 175
Seventh Army, 223, 258
VII Corps, 172
Exercise Tiger and, 58–59
Normandy invasion and, 57, 91
17th Airborne Division, 119, 220, 239
in Operation Varsity, 244
79th Division, 225
Shames, Edward, 158–60, 299
at Bastogne, 188
at Mourmelon, 168–69
at Noville, 217–18
Sheehy, Pvt., 103
Sherman tanks, 87, 99, 120, 136–37, 173, 215
Silver Star, 85, 186, 202, 206, 241
point system and, 281–82
Sink, Robert, 17–18, 64, 66, 153–54, 236, 283
in Alsace, 224
Ardennes strategy of, 213–14
in Austria, 280–81, 286, 288
basic training and, 27, 28–29
in Berchtesgaden, 264, 266
at Camp Toccoa, 25, 27
commendation of, 102
at Fort Benning, 33–34
at Haguenau, 234–35
in march to Atlanta, 28, 29
at Mourmelon, 240
at Normandy, 85
pep talk of, 121
promotion of, 289
“Rescue” and, 158–60
severity of, 34, 53–54
strategy at Bastogne, 177
Sisk, Wayne “Skinny,” 18, 67, 93, 299
in Austria, 276–77
6th Airborne Division, British, 119
in Operation Varsity, 244–45
6th Parachute Regiment, German, 77, 89, 91–105, 135
Slapton Sands, 57–70
Smith, George, 99, 109
Smith, Robert “Burr,” 38, 185, 300
Snider, Gerald, 105
sniper fire, 126, 183, 226
Sobel, Herbert, 15, 22, 38, 79, 98, 169, 210, 289, 290, 298–99
in Austria, 277
at Camp Mackall, 36–37
contraband and, 36–37
dissatisfaction with, 37, 47, 48, 52–54
form letter written by, 41
in Normandy invasion, 98
as officer, 23–27
reassignment of, 240
as supply officer, 122
tricks played on, 36, 47–48
Winters and, 23–26, 50–52, 53, 85, 241
Son, 120, 124–25, 130, 135, 139
South Pacific, 116
souvenirs of war, 91, 155, 239, 244, 260–61
Sowosko, Carl, 220, 222
Speirs, Ronald C., 83, 205–6, 209, 237, 288, 289, 301
in Alsace, 224
in Austria, 276–77, 279, 283–87
in Berchtesgaden, 269, 271–72
as company commander, 209–12, 221
in Germany, 253–58, 259–60
at Haguenau, 229–30
at Mourmelon, 241, 242
Spina, Ralph, 180, 181, 183, 261
SS troops, 144–54, 262, 267, 268
Stadium, M. L., 194, 293
Stafford, Ralph, 154, 158–60, 305
Strayer, Robert, 15, 97, 100, 229
Hawg Innards Problem and, 27
march to Atlanta and, 28
reassignment of, 240
Strohl, Rod, 26, 32, 70, 91, 95
woundings of, 100, 122, 144–45
supplies, 139
in Alsace, 224–25
Ardennes offensive and, 174
at Bastogne, 186, 190, 219
at Foy, 185, 214, 219
at Haguenau, 236
on “Hell’s Highway,” 132, 135
at Noville, 219
see also ammunition, ammunition supplies
Talbert, Floyd, 169, 290, 297–98
in Berchtesgaden, 269, 272
in Normandy invasion, 74–75, 95–96
reassignment of, 241
wounding of, 99, 109
tanks, 87, 99, 120, 136–37, 173, 215
in battle at Eindhoven, 127–28
British, 120, 127, 136–37, 140
in coordination with infantry, 140
MARKET-GARDEN and, 120
in Normandy campaign, 87, 101
Taylor, Amos “Buck,” 22, 169, 301
at Foy, 188
promotions of, 38, 241
Taylor, Maxwell, 55–56, 65, 106, 119, 168, 244
in Austria, 280
Bastogne strategy of, 205, 213
declaration of martial law and, 263
at Mourmelon, 242
Normandy invasion tactics of, 91–92, 98
Operation Eagle and, 62
personality of, 122
point system and, 282
redeployment of 101st and, 287–88
at Saverne, 237
Winters and, 190
telephone communications, 83, 226
Telstad, Elmer, 105
10th Armored Division, 179, 191
Third Army, 139
Ardennes offensive and, 191, 193, 223
Normandy campaign and, 116
3d Battalion of 327th, 97
3d Battalion of 506th
at Bastogne, 179
at Haguenau, 236
on “Hell’s Highway,” 135
XXX Corps, 124
37th Tank Battalion, 190, 236
327th Glider Infantry Regiment, 92, 97
340th Volksgrenadier Division, German, 267
363d Volksgrenadier Division, German, 144–54
Tiger, Exercise, 58–59
Tiger Royals, 136–37
Tipper, Ed, 305, 306
at Camp Mackall, 36, 37
Camp Toccoa and, 18–19, 24, 27
in Normandy invasion, 93–94, 96–97
TNT, 83
Tolsdorf, Theodor, 267–68
Tongelre, German attack at, 127–29
Torquay, Exercise Tiger and, 58–59
Tournai, 119
Toye, Joe, 35, 59, 67, 169, 1
83, 295–96
at Bastogne, 183
on D-Day, 76, 79–82, 85
wounding of, 196, 200–201
tracer bullets, 69, 146, 227, 231, 233
Transportation Corps, 174
transport vehicles, 132
Trapazano, Ralph, 197–98
trench foot, 162
trench warfare, 58, 142, 165
Troop Carrier Command, 244
12th Replacement Depot, 170, 222
12th SS Division (Hitlerjugend), German, 198
29th Infantry Division, 91, 101
Uden, 130–35, 138, 139, 140, 164
United Services Organization (USO), 115
Uppottery airfield, 60–61, 62
Utah Beach, 13, 225, 291
Allied strategy and, 57–58, 77, 83
defense of, 83–85
museum at, 87
significance of E Company at, 83–84
supply depot at, 106, 107
Van Gogh, Vincent, 126
Van Klinken, Robert, 129
Varsity, Operation, 244–45
Veghel, 120, 124, 131–34, 139, 164
Vest, Allen, 231–32
Vittore, Al, 183
von der Heydte, Frederick, 77, 89, 91, 94, 99, 135
V-2 missile, 142
Waal, 141, 143
Warren, Thomas, 105
Warriors, The (Gray), 22, 155, 156, 221, 227–29, 235, 250
Wartime (Fussell), 24–25, 84, 155
Webb, Harold, 209, 211
Webb, Kenneth, 220
Webster, David Kenyon, 20, 28, 32, 44, 59, 62, 125, 228, 247, 260, 301–2
at Aldbourne, 44, 110–11
in Austria, 278–79, 280, 284, 288
in Berchtesgaden, 268–70, 272
at Camp Toccoa, 20, 28
Displaced Persons’ camp and, 256–57
E Company observed by, 112–14
on end of war, 117
in Germany, 249–51, 257
at Haguenau, 225–33
at Joigny, 289
at Mourmelon, 238, 242–44, 245
point system and, 281–82
at Saverne, 237
souvenir hunting and, 155
on surrender of German soldiers, 261–62
transferal of, 110–11
wounding of, 149, 169–71, 220–22
Wehrmacht, 175, 261, 266, 268, 274
Ardennes offensive and, 172
combat attitudes of, 110–12
disintegration of, 261–62
morale of, 138
Normandy campaign strategy of, 77, 91
punishment in, 155
strength of, 172–73
Welling, James, 185, 252, 284
Welsh, Harry, 16–17, 38, 68, 68, 90, 96–97, 108, 114, 168–69, 305
in Austria, 279
in Berchtesgaden, 266
on D-Day, 70, 72, 87, 88
in Germany, 253
promotion of, 112
reassignment of, 240
in “Rescue,” 158–60
wounding of, 188
Wentzel, Jerry, 105
West Point, 17–18, 85, 229, 234
West Wall, 173, 191
Wilhelmina Canal, 120, 124
Wimer, Ralph, 105
Winters, Richard, 17, 64–65, 78–83, 84–85, 86–87, 92, 95–107, 108–9, 161, 167, 169, 286, 288, 289, 306–7
in Alsace, 224
in Austria, 274–76, 277, 278, 279
in Berchtesgaden, 266, 268–70, 272
breaking point and, 202–4
at Camp Toccoa, 18
at Carentan, 89–107
character of, 22–23, 114, 163
concentration camp and, 262–63
D-Day and, 68, 76
D-Day diary of, 66, 71, 88, 102
at Foy, 186, 203–4
in Germany, 254–55
at Haguenau, 229–33, 234
at Mourmelon, 239, 241, 242, 245
on paratrooping, 16
promotions of, 25, 106, 236
reassignment of, 154, 240
Regular commission declined by, 283
respect for, 22–23
at Saverne, 237
Sobel and, 23–26, 50–52, 53, 85, 241
on surrender of German soldiers, 262
Taylor and, 190
transfers of, 52, 54
wounding of, 97–98
X.O. assignment of, 154, 160, 161
World War I, 142–43
Doughboys in, 165
“40-and-8s,” 238, 258, 259
trench warfare of, 58, 142, 165
World War II
combat attitudes in, 110–12
comradeship of troops in, 20–22, 26, 46, 62, 110–12, 155–57, 219–20
end of, 271–73
morale of troops in, 84, 112, 138, 177–78, 186, 219–20
Wright, Richard, 68, 73, 245
Wynn, Robert “Popeye,” 36, 259, 304
on D-Day, 76, 78–84
at Haguenau, 229
wounding of, 78–84, 122
Yale University, 15, 17, 272
Zell am See, 274, 275, 278, 279, 281, 283, 285, 289
Zetten, 143
SIMON & SCHUSTER
Rockefeller Center
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com
Copyright © 1992, 2001 by Stephen E. Ambrose
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole on in part in any form.
Second Touchstone Edition 2001 Touchstone and colophon are registered trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
DESIGNED BY LISA CHOVNICK
The Library of Congress has cataloged the Simon & Schuster edition as follows: Ambrose, Stephen E.
Band of brothers : E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st
Airborne : from Normandy to Hitler’s Eagle’s nest /
Stephen E. Ambrose.
p. cm.
Includes index.
1. United States. Army. Parachute Infantry Regiment, 506th. Company E—History. 2. World War, 1939–1945—Airborne troops. 3. World War, 1939–1945—Regimental histories—United States. 4. World War, 1939–1945—Campaigns—Western. I. Title.
D769.347 .A57 1992
940.54’21—dc20 91-47684
CIP
ISBN 0-671-76922-7
0-7432-1645-8 (Pbk)
ISBN13: 978-0-7432-1834-4 (eBook)
Contents
Acknowledgments
Epigraph
Maps
Prologue
1. THE DEFENDERS
2. THE ATTACKERS
3. THE COMMANDERS
4. WHERE AND WHEN?
5. UTILIZING ASSETS
6. PLANNING AND PREPARING
7. TRAINING
8. MARSHALING AND BRIEFING
9. LOADING
10. DECISION TO GO
11. CRACKING THE ATLANTIC WALL
The Airborne into Normandy
12. “LET’S GET THOSE BASTARDS”
The Airborne Night Attack
13. “THE GREATEST SHOW EVER STAGED”
The Air Bombardment
14. A LONG, ENDLESS COLUMN OF SHIPS
The Naval Crossing and Bombardment
15. “WE’LL START THE WAR FROM RIGHT HERE”
The 4th Division at Utah Beach
16. “NOUS RESTONS ICI”
The Airborne in the Cotentin
17. VISITORS TO HELL
The 116th Regiment at Omaha
18. UTTER CHAOS REIGNED
The 16th Regiment at Omaha
19. TRAFFIC JAM
Tanks, Artillery, and Engineers at Omaha
20. “I AM A DESTROYER MAN”
The Navy at Omaha Beach
21. “WILL YOU TELL ME HOW WE DID THIS?”
The 2nd Ranger Battalion on D-Day Morning
22. UP THE BLUFF AT VIERVILLE
The 116th Regiment and 5th Ranger Battalion
&n
bsp; 23. CATASTROPHE CONTAINED
Easy Red Sector, Omaha Beach
24. STRUGGLE FOR THE HIGH GROUND
Vierville, St.-Laurent, and Colleville
25. “IT WAS JUST FANTASTIC”
Afternoon on Omaha Beach
26. THE WORLD HOLDS ITS BREATH
D-Day on the Home Fronts
27. “FAIRLY STUFFED WITH GADGETS”
The British Opening Moves
28. “EVERYTHING WAS WELL ORDERED”
The 50th Division at Gold Beach
29. PAYBACK
The Canadians at Juno Beach
30. “AN UNFORGETTABLE SIGHT”
The British at Sword Beach
31. “MY GOD, WE’VE DONE IT”
The British Airborne on D-Day
32. “WHEN CAN THEIR GLORY FADE?”
The End of the Day
Photographs
Glossary
Endnotes
Bibliography
Appendix A: Veterans who contributed oral histories or written memoirs to the Eisenhower Center
Index
Maps
The Final Overlord Invasion Plan
German Strength in Western Europe
Landing Diagram, Omaha Beach
Utah Beach Airborne Assault on D-Day
The Allied Assault Routes on D-Day
Utah Beach Infantry Assault on D-Day
Omaha Beach First Wave Landings on D-Day
Omaha Beach Eastern Sector
Omaha Beach Evening of D-Day
FOR FORREST POGUE, THE FIRST HISTORIAN OF D-DAY
Acknowledgments
Dr. Forrest Pogue began the process of collecting the oral histories of the men of D-Day on June 6, 1944. He was a sergeant (with a Ph.D. in history) serving with S. L. A. Marshall’s team of historians in the Army’s Historical Section, charged by Gen. George C. Marshall with collecting data from men of all ranks for an official history of the war. The team ultimately produced The U.S. Army in World War II (known as the Green Books from the color of the bindings), a series of scores of volumes known worldwide for accuracy and thoroughness. In 1954, Dr. Pogue published the penultimate volume in the ETO series, The Supreme Command, based on the documents generated by SHAEF and on interviews Pogue conducted with Eisenhower, Montgomery, and their principal subordinates. The Supreme Command is a genuinely great work, still the authoritative account.
But on D-Day, Dr. Pogue was working at the other end of the chain of command. He was on an LST serving as a hospital ship off Omaha Beach, interviewing wounded men about their experiences that morning. This was pioneering work in oral history; later Dr. Pogue was one of the founders of the Oral History Association.
Since I first began working for General Eisenhower as one of the editors of his wartime papers, Dr. Pogue has been my model, guide, and inspiration. He is important to my life, and to this book, in ways that go far beyond his publications (which include his four-volume, classic biography of Gen. George C. Marshall). For three decades he has been marvelously generous with his time and wisdom. At historical conferences, on eight long trips to Normandy and the other European battlefields, by correspondence and over the telephone, he has taught me and encouraged me in more ways than could ever be counted.