Gourbesville (2.1)

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2009 GOURBESVILLE - VILLAGE CHURCH
James R. Hattrick and R.B. Lewellen, both of Company I, floated to earth in the area of Gourbesville at about 0245 hrs on D-Day. Within the next few minutes Lewellen had been gravely wounded and taken prisoner and Hattrick had been shot in the head. Both were taken to a German Aid Station in the town square where Hattrick died and Lewellen had a hand amputated. Fast forward 63 years ... the circumstances of Hattrick's demise was unknown, certainly by his best friend R.B. Lewellen who wasn't even certain where they had come down. Then a plaque that reads "To the memory of James R. Hattrick, a soldier of the 82nd Parachutists and the 300 American soldiers who fell on the field of honor at Gourbesville between 6 and 16 June 1944" came to the attention of some 508th researchers. "Why does it single out this one man amongst 300 others?, they wondered. Vivian Roger of the Association U. S. Normandie, contacted Gourbesville Mayor Maurice Gidon to inquire about the memorial. Mayor Gidon said that he arrived in Gourbesville in 1951 and that plaque was already there. He asked the previous mayors about its origin but they did not know either. Due to additional research, and some speculation, it is now believed that the plaque was the gift or the war-time mayor of Gourbesville whose life may have been saved as he was being threatened by a German office who held a gun to his head. Hattrick shot the officer before being killed himself thereby earning his personal gratitude.
2012 UPDATE: a document located by Niels Henkemans has cast new light on the tale of Hattrick shooting an officer who was threatening the mayor. This account, in the mayor's own words, what may cause the earlier tale to be categorized as just folk lore. The testimony does not, however, diminish Hattrick's bravery as it credits him with at least six enemy kills. [read the document]
It All Started Here This small tablet, singling out one 508th man amongst 300 of the 90th ID and 82nd Abn, sparked the research that resulted in the new memorial plaque in Gourbesville honoring Hattrick and R.B. Lewellen	The tall obelisk at left is in the Churchyard, facing the entry gate, and just next to the mayor's office. It was was erected in memory of the sons of Gourbesville who died in WW-I (1914-1918). The years 1933-1944 were added later to commemorate those lost during the occupation of France.	Church Graveyard somewhere in this vicinity the Germans buried Hattrick in grave #4. He was later removed and reinterred in Ste Mere Eglise Temporary Cemetery #2.and ultimately repatriated to lie in his native North Carolina soil	Delaune Family Grave includes that of the mayor believed to have created the tablet memorializing Hattrick	Church Altar is very ornate and features hand carved decoration	Ancient bible rests on a reading stand to the left of the altar
Family of Christ captured in stone in an alcove of the church	In Memoriam [l-r] Randy Lewellen and Mayor Maurice Gidon light a candle	A Great Surprise "Bobby" Feuillye, one of the local researchers, learned that his maternal grandfather created the church's pews	A Century Later M. Pinel crafted and carved the pews in April 1892. Bobby lives within a few miles and never had known of this family history	"Cheat Seats" parishioners were required to stand during lengthy sermons but when the seats were folded they provided a ledge to rest upon	Ornate Head was actually the place where one might get relief from long periods of standing
All Normandy 'D-Day Plus 65' trip photos are a multi-national mixture of work by Hervé Argoud, Hans DeBree, Gene Garren, Fred Hoek, Herbert Lahout, Randy Lewellen, Cyndi Mathews, Bill Nation, Dick O'Donnell, Dominique Potier, Vivian Roger, Zane Schlemmer, Donald van den Bogert and Nelly van Loo. Individual credits have not been given.