The Guinea Pigs Club is a name adopted by a very special group of British and other Allied airmen in WWII who suffered horrific burns, and spent years in a special hospital undergoing dozens (some more than 100) operations and plastic surgery. At the same time they were receiving the psychological help and moral support needed to live with their life-long disfigurements by an equally special group of Plastic Surgeons and Nurses. These men have held annual reunions since 1945 and some are still active in helping other burn victims today. These men paid a very high price in defence of freedom and liberty...God bless them all!

Dogdaddy

Sgtleo Here:-

Started out in 79th ID. Made the mistake of talking to the locals in Normandy and then some of the POWS before the breakout of Normandy. Didn't know some Intel Officers were there specifically looking for interrogators/interpreters and just like that I went into an MP BN and the very next day to an Intel Company. Didn't even unpack my gear. Raised H**l with my #301 file.

I spoke,read and wrote French and German(much better back then) as I had studied French for 4 years--no English allowed last two years and German for three years with no English for 2 years. Should have kept it up but........?

Was transferred to Lucky Forward 3rd Army HQ for a while and when Operation Varsity came along I was sent TDY to the 17th AB(don't have to be a jumper to be in Glider Infantry Regt.)

After VE Day got reassigned to an MP outfit to do interpreting/interrogating in Austria and then one day some real bright Officer decided a Medium Automotive Maintenance Co. needed a 1st Sgt. so I got the job. Talk about a fish out of water!

Decided to take a transfer to the States rather than accept a Commission as I had already done 2+ years in the ETO and would have done at least 2 more there

No Way Jose!!

This is my life

Me at age 19 on right side of photo - this is what a few months combat makes you look like. Man on left was 19;man in middle was 20(an old guyLOL)

Sgtleo

Theodore -Usually called Teddy was about 34 or 35 years old when he was activated in December 1941.

He was one of the first men drafted from the 1st Corps Area in early 1941. At the time of Pearl Harbor, he had less than a month's time left in his draft time but because of Pearl Harbor he was extended into the war time.

He served in North Africa,Sicily(where he was wounded by I believe Mortar Fire)

and then went on to Italy and again I believe to the UK with the 9th.

He was about 5-8 or so well built and had red curly hair. His ASN would have begun with 31.......

He had been a Railroad Worker prior to the Draft.

Any data would be greatly appreciated.

Sgtleo

If you can stand my stories here's a couple more!!

Thought you may or may not have read this data - hope you do!!

Another part of the Omaha Beach History:-2 scenarios

The assault by the Rangers on the Pointe du Hoc was a bad situation all around!

The Intel was wrong when they said that there was a battery on the headland 30 meters high(100 ft)aimed at Utah/Omaha because when the Rangers reached the top there was NO battery there. There was one further inland but that was not properly manned and the story was the two(2) Rangers managed to "spike the barrels" and render the battery useless.

According to the data we had there were ONLY 90 men of the ORIGINAL 226 standing at the end of two(2) days of intense fighting. If my memory is correct it was the 101 AB that linked up with the Rangers on the Vivre River.

___________________________________________________________________

The Rangers of Pointe du Hoc

"Located Pointe du Hoc, Mission accomplished, Need ammunition and reinforcements, Many casualties." --Lt. Col. James Rudder, 2nd Ranger Battalion, D-Day message

Between Utah and Omaha Beaches stands a large promontory called Pointe du Hoc. Allied planners learned the Germans had placed a battery of 155 mm howitzers here. With a firing range of 14 miles, these guns threatened the assault forces on both American beaches.

Allied planners gave two battalions of U.S. Army Rangers the job of neutralizing the German guns. These elite troops were trained to make an amphibious landing on the beach in front of Pointe du Hoc, scale its 100-foot cliffs, and destroy the German battery.

On D-Day the Rangers, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James Rudder, used rocket-propelled grappling hooks attached to ropes and ladders to climb the cliffs. As they worked their way up, the Germans dropped grenades on them and cut some of their ropes. Still, within five minutes, the Rangers made it to the top and drove off the defenders.

They then made a startling discovery,the German guns were missing. Sergeant Len Lomell and two other Rangers scouted inland. A short distance away they found the guns. They quickly destroyed them.

By 9:00 A.M. the Rangers had accomplished their mission. But for the next two days they faced intense German counterattacks. The 2nd Ranger Battalion took over 50 percent casualties.

"We fired our rockets with the grappling hooks two at a time. Some ropes didn't make it to the top of the cliff.... the enemy cut some, but we did have enough of them... to get the job done. I was the last one in from my boat, and when I finally got to the base, there was a rope right in front of me, so I started to go up.... The enemy was shooting at us, and throwing grenades by the bushel basketful." --Cpt. James Eikner, 2nd Ranger Battalion.

Sgtleo

May I please ask you to remember that I was one of many that did what they were told to do,when they were told to do it and the way they had been taught to do it. Much of it was like a conditioned reflex in that you responded - then thought about why you reacted that way!

Having said that here's a story that is about WW II that I hope you will find entertaining and uplifting at the same time.

I had a soldier in my Company from Brooklyn,NY who was a 4.0 grunt in every respect. He took a lot of kidding because he was Jewish and sounded almost like a movie character with his Brooklynese accent.

In England prior to leaving for France, the unit had a Church Parade for all who wanted to attend. Very few refused this opportunity I might add. Two lines of 6x6s were lined up to transport the men to their choice. Protestant/Catholic

Unfortunately,Harry's name had been left off either list because there was no Jewish Chaplain available to conduct a service for them.

When the trucks were about fully loaded Harry came to me and asked to be taken to the Catholic Service. I explained to him that he wasn't on the list and there was no Officers available to add him to it but that did not sit well with him because he was Orthodox and felt he should attend a Service.

Discussion followed but time was running short for departure so just as straight faced as a statue he yelled at me "You Christians forget Jesus Christ was a Jew - so I'm going" and he jumped on the truck. I didn't know the Captain had overheard all so he said "Sarge forget it let him go!! You can't argue with that kind of logic and determination!!".

I never got a chance to tell Harry how much I respected his determination and for this I'm sorry.

Sgtleo