In the story of Edsel Malone, HQ Co, 2/508PIR, killed on Hill 30 on June 7th 1944 and temporarily buried at Blosville at the same time as Lt. Johnson and Doctor [Medic] Frank Mackey (www.508pir.org), appears the following on page 8: "It is unknown whether these men - Lt Johnson and Private Mackey - actually died with Edsel, but they were more certainly in the Hill 30 area when they died". We are pleased today to inform you that part of the mystery is solved, thanks to Susan Eisenhower, Ike's granddaughter.
All American veterans and their families know Picauville and Lucien Hasley's "Mur du Souvenir". On each stone forming the wall, Lucien inscribed the name of a veteran who fought on Hill 30. Lucien Hasley commenced his investigation immediately after the war. In 1982, he decided to construct a wall where the name of his American heroes would appear forever. This wall finally indicated about 100 names of soldiers, principally parachutists of 508th PIR, but also pilots and crew of C-47s which crashed on June 6th and 7th. Only one stone remained sadly unmarked throughout all these years. It was the first laid by Lucien, who wanted to honour, when he knew, the parachutist medical orderly who had cared for his little brother Bébert (Albert).
The story is told in Lucien's book "Une vie de souvenirs".
On June 6th, Bébert had a very bad headache of unknown origin, and by reason of all the events of D-Day, with parachutists descending in the sky and furious fighting all around the houses in Port-Filiolet, his parents were unable to contact the doctor.
Here is the account by Lucien Hasley:
"Early on the morning of June7th 1944, Papa met a neighbour. This family had remained in the house, 100 m. from us. My father told her who we were and explained to her that now our most important problem was the health of my brother Bébert. Yvette replied that she had several wounded Americans in her house as well as a "qualified medical orderly". She would ask him to come and see our little sick one. Later in the morning Yvette came, accompanied by an armed and helmeted parachutist. It was the "medic". They went into the Allix house where my brother was asleep on a small mattress.
The soldier put down his weapon, took off his helmet and also his tunic, all with the purpose of not frightening the 9 year-old child when he awoke. He knelt near the mattress and examined Bébert who woke up. We will never know what he diagnosed. He gave some tablets that Bébert should take with a glass of water. Then he put on his uniform again, grasped his weapon, and headed for the door, accompanied by Yvette. On the threshold he turned towards us and made us understand that we should not stay in this house for it was dangerous. The Germans from the village of Angle had perhaps seen the parachutist enter and leave, and would fire on the house. He added "I will come back again tomorrow to see the sick little boy". Yvette was pleased to have brought us a little comfort. She left with the soldier to rejoin the wounded at her home.
During the night of the 7th-8th after midnight, a lorry full of Germans stopped in front of Yvette Laisney's house. They knocked at the door. The American medical orderly at once understood the danger. Before opening a backdoor leading to the garden, he made Mr. and Mme Laisney, Yvette and the 2 wounded Americans fit enough to walk, leave . One was called Wogan (private 1st class). Although badly injured and covered in dressings he managed to slip away to the neighbour Leforestier's house, which was already sheltering several families from the village including the Hasley family. He knocked at the door and despite the danger (the Germans were engaged by the parachutists 100 m. from there). Wogan spent the night with the civilians. The other wounded was called Melvin Pommerening. He managed to drag himself to a small shed behind the Hasley house, and he survived.
The medical orderly only then opened the door to the enemy. He was at once struck in the back by a bayonet. The Germans killed Lt. Johnson, who was too badly wounded to escape. Then, furious, they threw 2 incendiary grenades into the house. They ignored the fact that they were being observed by parachutists hidden around who immediately opened fire; 5 Germans remained on the ground together with 2 parachutists. The other members of the enemy group hurriedly returned to the lorry and left at full speed in a westerly direction towards Ais village.
The Germans in this lorry had come to lay mines at the crossroad of the Prusse road. Why did they stop in front of the house? For a long time Yvette asked herself the question: had she been betrayed by the villagers? As for our "medic", despite his injuries, he dragged himself away from the burning house helped by Yvette and perhaps other civilians, to the other side of the road away from the flames. He had enough strength to crawl near to 2 other American parachutists killed during the shooting with the Germans. The unfortunate soldier was losing his blood at the side of the road without us being able to do anything for him, he who had risked his life to come and see Bébert. We will never forget this man who, after having examined my brother, had advised us to leave the house. As it happened, the next day a shell fell on it, but we had all already left. The medical orderly died on June 8th as a result of his injuries. Yvette stayed to the end next to the dying man, accompanied by another parachutist who gave a last cigarette to his comrade."
One day in Spring 2016, Mrs. Susan Eisenhower visiting Normandy with some other people, passed by Picauville. She stopped in front of the wall and talked with Lucien Hasley. The story of the murdered "medic " and of the stone still awaiting a name greatly upset her. She decided to take things into her own hands. Once back in the USA thanks to her several contacts, she did not take long to find a trail. She even made contact with the supposed son of the "medic" in order to check certain details. And the solution was found at Picauville with Lucien Hasley on June 4th, 2016. Mrs. Susan Eisenhower, accompanied by Generals Townsend and Ray, showed Lucien Hasley a photo of the medical orderly: his name was Frank Mackey.
Today, Lucien Hasley has finished his life's work. The first stone which he had laid 30 years earlier was the last to be inscribed. The name which he sought so fervently for 72 years fearing never to discover the name of the medical orderly who, in the heat of battle, took the time to come and examine Bébert was finally inscribed forever on the "Mur du Souvenir".
Epilogue:
On October 22nd 2016, Frank's son John E. Mackey, 74 years old, who never knew his father, accompanied by all his family came to pay his respects in front of the "Mur du Souvenir". As you can imagine he was met by Lucien Hasley full of emotion and by his brother (Bébert) who served as guides to the family anxious to see where Frank, their father and grandfather, lost his life.
Without knowing the full story of Frank, Michel and Paulette LeCambaye, from Ste Mère Eglise had adopted Frank's tomb and had laid flowers there for several tens of years. It was a great emotion for them, also, to learn who Frank Mackey was, what he undertook, and to know the place of his death.
Village of Port-Filiolet at Picauville.
1-Yvette Laisney's house where the wounded parachutists were hidden.
2-Place where Frank Mackey died.
3-The Hasley family's house in 1944.
4-Lucien Hasley's present house and "Mur du Souvenir".
5-Leforestier's house
6-Cellar where soldier Pommerening hid.
