O.B. Hill und Kameraden
by Francis M. Lamoureux (as appeared
in the 508 Association's Winter 2000 newsletter)
The photo [at left] is taken from page 43 of the
French Magazine, “Armes MILITARIA”, issue No. 167, June 1999.
I was in the square at Ste.-Mere-Eglise
on June 6, 1999. A Frenchman in his 40’s approached me. I had never seen him before.
He beckoned me to approach his car parked next to mine.
Without a word, he reached into his
car, took out this magazine and handed it to me. I had no idea what it was. I offered
to pay him. He shook his head and said, “C’est pour vous.” [This is for you.]
I shook his hand, thanked him for the magazine and we said “goodbye". It was not
until much later in the day that I discovered the story of O.B. Hill.
"Le
Sergeant O.B. Hill, egare Le 6 juin 1944
The
impact when I hit the water was violent. I was sinking rapidly in the muddy current
of the Douve. I couldn't move and the inescapable feeling of death seized my mind
and my body. Finally, my feet touched solid ground and I stood up and pushed myself
out of the water. Suddenly a ray of hope - my mouth came up above the water!"
This is how O.B. Hill described his
landing near Beauzeville-la Bastille in Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944 to Dominique
Francois.
The five-page spread replete with
maps and photos of memorabilia recounts the events of the first five days of combat
of O.B. Hill and his comrades from Hq 1st Battalion of the 508 Parachute Infantry
Regiment in Normandy.
[Ed. Note: - we presume that the article first
appeared in a German magazine else the title should have read "O.B.
Hill et Amis"]
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