”The Greatest of the Greatest Generation"

PFC Circelli made it back into our position shot in the neck, several bullets in his arm and with his lip and chin shot off.

We had been under siege for four days and had jumped with three days rations and some D-bars (high protein chocolate).  While I was using a blood plasma tube to give water to Circelli, I looked up and saw an American truck coming toward us.  It was from the 90^th Infantry Division.

The 90th Infantry Division troops evacuated our wounded and Captain Adams moved our group to Hill 30 where the 508^th PIR was assembling.

We had our first hot meal in five days, spent the next three days getting weapons, resting and preparing for our next mission.  We were provided with  water-cooled .30 caliber machineguns.  We had never seen this type of machinegun but we were expected to employ them in the next few days.  Some old timers taught us how to use the guns and pack the barrels to keep water from leaking out.

I was promoted to Sergeant to replace my Section Chief, Sergeant John Pavlick who had been killed.

Thereafter, from June 11 to July 9, the 508^th PIR was an effective force.  We captured causeways, rivers, Hills 130, 195,  95,  and many others.

We had one bath, one change of clothes, and no replacements in our 33 days in Normandy.

Silver Star Medal

Kenneth J.  Merritt, 18161638, Corporal, 508^th Parachute Infantry Regiment is awarded the Silver Star medal for gallantry in action 4 July 1944, northeast of La CUIROTERIE, FRANCE.

 While attacking through the village of La CUIROTERIE, one of two heavy machineguns commanded by Corporal Merritt, Headquarters Company First Battalion, 508^th Parachute Infantry Regiment was  knocked out by enemy fire and its crew wounded.

 To equalize the firepower in his sector, Corporal Merritt assaulted the machinegun position and knocked it out with hand grenades.

 His action enabled the battalion to maintain its line at that point and repulse two counter attacks with his remaining machineguns.

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David Jones, Hq1 S2 Section recalls his first days in Normandy.  “I was number 13 in the 18-man stick.  I could not stand up and hook up until the first ten men started out the door.
 

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