Multi-National Team
members of the First Airborne Task Force take a much needed break during Operation Dragoon at Le Mitan farmhouse in front of Gen. Frederick's CP, So France.
(courtesy Tony Rogers)
Pvt Zane Schlemmer
HQ 2nd, 3 July 1944, l'Auvairie, Normandy after being wounded near Hill 131,
warms a morphine vial in his mouth before injecting himself |
Rations Break
[L to R] John Brickley, A.
B, Cannon, Sgt.
Frank Taylor, and Capt. Jonathan Adams (all Co. A). Undated photo taken by Rex
Combs in
France.
(courtesy of Capt. Rex Combs collection
D+30 (years)
Zane returned to the same house to reminisce about his
experiences
(courtesy of Irv Shanley) |
 Souvenir Flag
displayed by a group of
largely unidentified paratroopers. The man to left of flag holder may be William J. Torpie, 508. Note the huge sword held by the man at far right!
[see
related video]
 The
parents of Bryant DeLoach felt that it was their son holding the flag and
also penned in a name for the man to his left. Unfortunately this is at
least the third identity that we have heard of for the same man.
 HQ 2nd S-2 (Intelligence Unit) Group
on Hill 30
(clockwise from bottom right), Gale (Robinson?), Warren
Robinson, Herb Sellers, Mac (last name unknown),
Ted LeFree, Amos Moss. [All identities are not fully confirmed]
(courtesy Dan LeFree) |
 Main
Character Identified?
Santa Marians today reported hearing in a radio broadcast from a war
correspondent that the first paratrooper to jump over France was Bryant
DeLoach of Santa Maria, and that David McGraw of Santa Maria, was also
among the first. Bryant's parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. M. DeLoach, also
believe the picture appearing on the front page of The Times yesterday, (see
article at left) of a
paratrooper holding a Nazi flag captured in France, to be that of their son.
Dirty and Bedraggled
William Kambrick [far left] and two unidentified men take a break in
southern France during Operation Dragoon..
At the time Kambrick was in the 509th PIR. When that unit was deactivated on
17 March 1944, he was transferred to the 508th. |
 Hells
Half Acre Survivors
June 11, 1944 at Chef du Pont
Hell's Half Acre was the nickname that the 508th gave to
that patch of land known otherwise as Hill 30.
June 11th, after 5 days of fierce fighting, was spent reorganizing the units, reallocating men, weapons and ammunition in
preparation for future operations.
The respite was brief. That evening, at 2130 hours, the
plan was received for the next operation, which to be carried out
the night of 12-13 June 1944.
All are unidentified except Glenn Sommerville, seated without
helmet, front row, 2nd from right. |
