The current guardian of this Remembrance Page is CW3 Richard Doty.
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This Remembrance Profile was originally created by SGT Robert Briggs - Deceased
Contact Info
Home Town Brothers Only
Last Address 86 Saunders Rad Norwood, MA 02062
Date of Passing Feb 15, 2019
Location of Interment Saint Joseph's Cemetery - West Roxbury, Massachusetts
Recently had to move to an Assisted Living Facility for health/safety reasons. One table mate was General Patton's driver so we have much in common - other two were Navy.
Enjoying retirement and trying to stay alive as long as possible!!!!
Remembering how we thought our efforts to build the National WW II Memorial in DC might never get off the ground - yet today's visitors faces make it A-OK. No Politicians were involved or Government Money used.
Working with many others to get the Army Historical Foundation (not yet completed) off the ground and doing the same with the National WW II Museum (much more done - yet still not complete).
WWII - European Theater of Operations/Northern France Campaign (1944)
From Month/Year
July / 1944
To Month/Year
September / 1944
Description (Northern France Campaign 25 July to 14 September 1944) Bombardment along a five-mile stretch of the German line enabled the Allies to break through on 25 July. While some armored forces drove southward into Brittany, others fanned out to the east and, overcoming a desperate counterattack, executed a pincers movement that trapped many Germans in a pocket at Falaise. The enemy fell back on the Siegfried Line, and by mid-September 1944 nearly all of France had been liberated. During these operations in France, while light and medium bombers and fighter-bomber aircraft of Ninth Air Force had been engaged in close support and interdictory operations, Eighth and Fifteenth Air Forces had continued their strategic bombing.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
July / 1944
To Month/Year
September / 1944
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
People You Remember Too Long go to Remember Others Involved
Memories I was acting as an MP guarding a cross road outside Chartres,France at the time the 26th (ID) was in the area and Kraut POWS were coming back through. I noticed locals staring down into river so I decided to take a look-see and walked up to the bridge(I was doing interpreting off and on for an Intel Unit) and I heard enough to know that they weren't going to give me help or info.
A Canadian "Bike" rider was passing so I asked him to secure my weapon(sure didn't trust locals) while I climbed down the river bank-swam out to an overturned 2-1/2 six-by and proceeded to dive. After a few dives,I located both GIs. Swam ashore to get help. Ordinance sent 2 huge wreckers to recover bodies/trucks.
I was taken to an Aid Station for hypothermia treatment(got dry uniform)and went back to my unit as we were loading POWs for shipment to rear.Got served some semi-hot powdered eggs out of a can with ketchup-what a choice!! I had just stuck a hand inside a GIs head a while ago!!
Never heard any more-not even the GIs names-but some time later I was told by a Lt. they were from the 26th ID! Have always wondered who they were when I recall this incident since I lived in Boston and the 26th ID had a lot of men from that area in it. The 26th ID was nicknamed "Yankee Div." and shoulder patch was "YD".
Questions I have/had follow:-
Could GIs have been saved if locals spoke up before I got inquisitive?
Could we have helped save those GIs if the Locals spoke up??
Why stand and stare and not report GIs were in the river?
Did they dislike us that much?
Would love to have an answer to a lot of questions I have never been able to answer!!
I know it's a lot of years since '44 but I'm still curious about those 2 GIs.
Maybe ! I'll never know but curiosity came back when I saw YD's Web Page some time back.
I have posted this story other places but still nothing for my efforts.
