4-15-18 Garand Picture of the day

[Mark in Rochester]

Information

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[browningautorifle]

I think this one is Dutchies giving help at Market Garden...wonder why the 101st guys are?

[Paul S.]

I believe you are right. I suspect they got dumped miles off target and are seeking the locals' knowledge while trying to work out where they are and how to get to where they should be.

The USAAF transport pilots weren't that good at air navigation which is why all the combat jumps after D-Day were daylight drops.

[Bob Womack]

Alternately, this could be the liaison with the locals and the resistance that was spoken of in several accounts of the campaign. The locals had better knowledge of the best roads to use to move armor, etc. and of the specific deployments of German units. According to the accounts I've read, the British weren't generally comfortable using local knowledge but the US forces were. Specifically, the 101st utilized the British SOE Jedburgh team "Daniel II" and, on a tactical level, made contact with individuals that they vouched for and used their knowledge to adjust their tactics to fit the situation on the ground. It made a difference in outcomes in some cases.

Bob

[Bob Seijas]

Colorized photo, neat.

[browningautorifle]

Alternately, this could be the liaison with the locals and the resistance that was spoken of in several accounts of the campaign.

That's my bet, underground liaison...

[Paul S.]

Alternately, this could be the liaison with the locals and the resistance that was spoken of in several accounts of the campaign. The locals had better knowledge of the best roads to use to move armor, etc. and of the specific deployments of German units. According to the accounts I've read, the British weren't generally comfortable using local knowledge but the US forces were. Specifically, the 101st utilized the British SOE Jedburgh team "Daniel II" and, on a tactical level, made contact with individuals that they vouched for and used their knowledge to adjust their tactics to fit the situation on the ground. It made a difference in outcomes in some cases.

Bob

That is possible. However, I have to wonder why the highest ranking man, and the man with the map is only a Corporal. I would expect OSS liaison to be at least a Sergeant if not an officer. Then too, none of the civilians appear to be armed, or to have identifying armbands as the French Partisans had.

[Mark in Rochester]

by the helmet - 506th Para Inf Reg - Hq Co

[Bob Womack]

That is possible. However, I have to wonder why the highest ranking man, and the man with the map is only a Corporal. I would expect OSS liaison to be at least a Sergeant if not an officer. Then too, none of the civilians appear to be armed, or to have identifying armbands as the French Partisans had.

There is an excellent page HERE about this subject that establishes, in fact, that the lowest grades of official OSS and Netherland liaison group members was sergeant. It thus reinforces your observation. However, it states,

On an ad hoc level, use of the Eindhoven Resistance followed the same pattern as at Nijmegen and Arnhem. Approximately 200 individual Dutch citizens, both civilians and formal Resistance members, attached themselves to American airborne units. A photograph taken during the battle shows two P.A.N. members consulting a map with Colonel Howard R. Johnson, the 501st Parachute Infantry Regimental commander.(53) The Dutch were used as interpreters, guides and in the counter-intelligence role of identifying collaborators. The Screaming Eagles ran into the same problems as other airborne units did; mainly, the inability to establish the bonafides of the Dutch volunteers. Strict security measures regarding dissemination of information regarding Resistance rosters led to no dissemination at all. Information which was available was withheld from the soldiers and commanders who could have used it the most.

Bob

[Mark in Rochester]

When the 101st Airborne Division dug in on the "Island" (a small strip of land between the Waal and Rhine Rivers),

the 501st was subjected to mortar and artillery fire that killed and maimed many men. Colonel Johnson was able to keep the morale up and the regiment executed several successful patrols. On October 8, 1944, Johnson and his young executive officer, Lieutenant Colonel Julian Ewell, a West Point graduate, were visiting the front lines. Suddenly, some mortar shells hit the area. Men raced for cover and got down. Some of them were killed by the barrage. A large fragment hit the Colonel in the stomach. He fell to the ground. The medics knew that the wound was very serious, if not fatal. Two hours later, Johnson groaned, "Take care of my boys" to Colonel Ewell. Seconds later, he was dead.

Colonel (Infantry) Howard R. Johnson (ASN: 0-16647), United States Army, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Commanding Officer, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, in action against enemy forces from 6 to 8 June 1944, in France. Colonel Johnson's outstanding leadership, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 101st Airborne Division, and the United States Army. General Orders: Headquarters, First U.S. Army, General Orders No. 87 (1944)
Action Date: June 6–8, 1944Service: ArmyRank: ColonelCompany: Commanding OfficerRegiment: 501st Parachute Infantry RegimentDivision: 101st Airborne Division