Paratrooper Oliver Griffin's
Outfit Saw Continuous Action

Pvt Oliver W. Griffin, 21-year old son of J. B. Griffin of 626 W. Gordon St., belongs to an outfit which fought for more than 33 days during the French invasion without relief and without replacements.  Every mission was accomplished and no ground was ever lost.
  Pvt Griffin was one of those who landed in France on D-Day and who were unable to assemble as a tactical unit until the fourth day of the invasion.  For nearly 34 hours, in fact, or until noon of the day after D-Day, he paratroops were without contact with friendly forces.
 This regiment of he 82nd Airborne Division, dropped over a wide area on D-Day, played a brilliant role in carrying out their mission, which was to prevent the Germans from interfering with the ground assault force until the beach landings had been accomplished.
   A large pocket of Allied resistance was set up within enemy lines.  Throughout the heavy fighting of the campaign, the hard training, incomparable self reliance and bravado of all the men added to the history of the 82nd division.
   Pvt Griffin has written home recently that he was returned to England when his regiment was relieved.  He joined the Army immediately after graduation at mid-term in January of 1943 from Valdosta High School and has been overseas since last December.  He trained in Ireland and England before D-Day.  Pvt Griffin worked as a substitute in the local post office and also had a part-time job with Foremost Dairies while in school here.

Our Men In Service
Marietta Paratrooper Has Exciting Time When
He Lands In Normandy On Invasion Day

   Corp William B. Goudy of 407 Ohio St. is one paratrooper who fought 33 days without relief in Normandy.  According to a story just released by headquarters of the 82d Airborne Division, Normandy, the Marietta paratrooper is a member of one parachute infantry regiment dropped lover a wide area on D-Day.  Members of the regiment were unable to assemble as a tactical unit until the fourth day of the invasion.
   Nevertheless, the regiment played a brilliant role in carrying out the mission of the airborne troops, which was to prevent the Germans from interfering with the ground assault force until the beach landings had been accomplished.
   To achieve this, the 82nd captured the town of Ste. Mere Eglise and fought for and held bridges over two rivers, the Merderet at La Fière and the Douve at Pont L'Abbe and at Beuzeville in Bastille.  In this manner a large pocket of Allied resistance was set up within enemy lines.
    The task was accomplished in 33 days of action, without relief and without replacements.  Every mission was accomplished.  No ground gained was ever relinquished.  Even before the for[???] day when members of the regiment fought their way to a centralized assembly point they struck terrible blows  In small groups the paratroopers had taken their toll of German soldiers and enemy tanks.