The book and DVD is available from the april 10 2009
The book, provisionally entitled 'D-Day's Forgotten Battalion', and lavishly illustrated with numerous photographs, many previously unpublished, together with highly detailed maps. Using first hand accounts from more than one hundred soldiers and civilians, English authors Ian Gardner and Roger Day have been able to create a compellingly readable account. As an added bonus a number of battlefield locations have been positively identified for the very first time.
The story begins with the battalion's formation at Toccoa, Georgia in 1942 and continues, via the English village of Ramsbury, to the battlefields of Normandy, France.
The battalion's D-Day objectives were two bridges crossing the river Douve on the southern flank of the 101st Airborne Division's area of operations. One hundred and forty men actually made the bridges and alone held them for three days until relieved on the evening of June 8th 1944. The division suffered 4,670 casualties during the campaign with third battalion 506th experiencing the highest concentration. Out of the five hundred and seventy five officers and men who jumped, ninety-three men were killed, including the commander Lieutenant Colonel Robert L. Wolverton, and about seventy-five taken prisoner. Many of those captured thought their war was over, but for some it was just the beginning.
The book also includes an in depth study of the battle known as 'bloody gully' which took place just west of Carentan on June 13th 1944. From an American perspective this was one of the most important and decisive actions of the entire Normandy campaign.
Met a new friend on the internet and am introducing his site regarding the book he wrote, which honors his father and his buddies who served on the USS Solomons CVE 67.
After much flailing around, the location and dates of the 2009 reunion have /*FINALLY*/ been determined! /*(Yay!)*/ Here are the specifics of it, which will have to hold you until you get the newsletter, hopefully later this month:
Dates: _September 4 (arrival) to 8 (Departure) -- four nights
Hotel:_ Country Inn & Suites by Carlson, 1857 Gettysburg Village Drive, Gettysburg, PA 17325
Reservations _number: (717) 337-9518 Ask for a room in the 157th Infantry Block.
Room rates_: $99 + tax/night for a single room with two queen beds; $109 + tax/night for a small suite (king bed and fold-out couch)
Airport:_ The best airport is in Harrisburg, PA, which is 31 miles from the hotel. Due to this distance, the Association will provide FREE transportation to and from the airport (more details in the newsletter). The hotel is located just outside Gettysburg (less than 2 miles), but the Association will have a couple of vans available for local transportation as needed. Immediately adjacent to the hotel is a large outlet mall (about 40 stores), and in the parking lot is a TGIF Restaurant.
We will have the usual hospitality room, which might be the location of the banquet.
There will be tours of the battlefield, the visitors' center and probably the Eisenhower Farm.
All necessary fees and charges (less your hotel rooms, which you need to arrange yourselves) such as the registration fee, the banquet and tours will be collected upon arrival.
OK?
OK. Now get to work, get organized, get reserved, and let others know about this.
