York City [Camp Shanks, NY, Camp Kilmer, NJ, or Fort Dix, NJ]. We were permitted passes into the city that I thoroughly enjoyed. 

After a few days, our contingent of casuals boarded a ship and we sail-ed for Belfast, Ireland. After orientation and processing, in Belfast, we were sent to units in England that needed replacements. I went to Nottingham, England and was assigned to the Hq1 Battalion Intelligence Section (S2) of the 508^th Parachute Infantry Regiment [508^th PIR].”

[Gene Hull’s introduction into Hq1 and into combat in Normandy is described in Chapter II, Combat Operations – Normandy.] 

Gene’s continues. “In Normandy, after our small group was relieved from what was later called ‘Hells Half Acre,’ I joined up with Hq1.  As a member of the battalion S2 section, I performed day and night patrols and lead attacks.

On July 3, the First Battalion was moving to attack and seize Hill 131. It would become the departure point for the attack on Hill 95. The capture of Hill 95 was important. It would help us seize the town of La Haye-du-Puits. 

As we were approaching a crossroads, the Germans fired three or four artillery shells at the intersection.  We ran to the right side of the road, that was covered with large trees and hit the ground.

The Germans increased the artillery fire and placed several rounds in the trees under which we took cover. I was hit with shrapnel in my back and hip - and one golf ball size piece of shrapnel cut my sciatic and perennial nerves that controlled my leg movement and feeling. I was a long way from home, and seriously injured.  

Beginning at that moment, my life became a series of periods of  consciousness,  starting with when I was on a jeep stretcher going down Hill 131, to waking up in a hospital bed.

I can associate my periods of consciousness with events or activities. For example,

·        Coming down Hill 131, I saw a column of American soldiers stretching as far as I could see.

·        Staying for a short time in a field hospital.

·        Periods when I was in a very clean, quiet and orderly hospital room somewhere in Southern England.

Being placed in a bed with wheels and pushed into a large room where members of Glenn Miller’s band played for us. After