Through
the hedgerows we could hear voices. I couldnt tell if they were German or American
voices. "Flash" had been designated as our password. From behind a tree came a
challenge - Flash! The immediate reply was "Flash, Hell! This is Col. Maloney the
Executive Officer of the Regiment." Instantly we knew we were among friends. Troopers kept drifting in and our force was growing. Men came from
all units of the 82nd airborne Division and some from the 101st
Airborne. Nothing of consequence happened and soon it was dawn. We know nothing of what
had happened to anyone outside our own small group. There was not tactical unity, no
supporting weapons, just a group of invaders who were wondering what had happened to all
of their thorough planning. Just before daybreak, the first gliders began to come in. One
landed in a flooded area about 150 yards from where we had our perimeter set up. As the
men started to come out of the glider, enemy machine gunfire opened up from the hedgerow
on the other side. Men coming out of the glider were being hit. Fire was placed in the
general vicinity of the machine gun and this enabled a few men to make the hedgerow behind
which we had cover.
About 0900 hours, Lt. Col. Ostberg, Commander 1st
Battalion 507 Parachute Infantry Regiment, returned from the command post of Gen. Gavin,
Assistant Division Commander, and informed us that General Gavin was moving toward La
Fiere and that we were to follow. This meant fording the flooded area that we had already
struggled through earlier in the day. We pulled out of our position, leaving the wounded
marked and as comfortable as possible and started across the marsh. As we waded in water
sometimes chest deep, we were fired on by snipers, who appeared to be firing from long
range because of the inaccuracy of their fire. But one couldnt help being concerned
about the shots splashing water in his face. All that could be done was to keep on walking
and hoping.
We made it to the other side without mishap. We marched
south until we reached high ground overlooking the La Fiere Bridge. When we arrived, Gen.
Gavin told us we should proceed south along the railroad to Chef-du-Pont where we were to
seize the town and bridge across the Merderet west of the center of town. A few men who
had been able to get some automatic weapons from some of the bundles dropped as we jumped,
were attached for this mission and under the command of Col. Ostberg, proceeded down the
railroad toward Chef-du-Pont. There were about 100 men altogether equipped only with what
they could carry. Rifles, submachine guns, three machine guns and grenades of various
types including the British gammon grenade which packed a terrific wallop. At about 1000 6
June Col. Ostberg and his force, comprised of men of all units of the 507th and
some from the 508th had reached the railroad station of Chef-du-Pont without
any opposition. The railroad station was in the center of town and the small but important
bridge was a short distance southwest. A squad was sent to clear the section of town
northeast of the station, which they did without incident. The remainder of the force led
by Col. Ostberg started to race through the part of the town leading to the bridge. This
group was fired upon from several buildings simultaneously. Four of the men were hit and
the remainder was forced to hold until the town could be systematically cleared. This took
about two hours. By that time, most of the Germans had withdrawn ahead of us, apparently
headed for the bridge. Speed seemed to be the answer. We knew the bridge must be taken
before the Germans could organize their defense so we made a semi-organized dash for it.
We were too late. Two officers reached the bridge and were both shot - one toppling off
the bridge and into the water. The other officer falling on the eastern approach. The
officer toppling into the river was Col. Ostberg. He was rescued shortly afterward by two
soldiers of the 507 and lived to fight again. The other officer was dead. A short time
later, Col. Maloney arrived with about 75 more men and we set about dislodging the
stubborn enemy.
The railroad split the town and the bridge lay to the south
and west of the railroad station. Houses lined both sides of the road leading to the
bridge. A short distance from the bridge on the left side of the road leading to the
bridge was a large creamery which was two stories high and afforded good observation from
an upstairs window. South of the creamery and on three sides of the bridge, there were
obstacles, flooded areas. For practical purposes, the only approach to the bridge was the
one we had chosen through Chef-du-Pont. The approaches from the west were causeways, long
and straight and completely flooded on both sides. Germans were dug in on the shoulders on
both sides of the road occupying foxholes dispersed at intervals of about ten yards for a
long stretch leading to the bridge and beyond. No one could hope to attack successfully or
withdraw along these causeways without a preponderance of supporting fires. Something we
did not have. Nevertheless, we were on the outskirts of Chef-du-Pont with 175 men. What
are we waiting for? Lets take the bridge. Two attempts to storm the bridge proved
unsuccessful. There had to be a better way. We did succeed in clearing the eastern side of
the bridge, however, by over running the positions along the shoulders of the road.
Our own position along the edge of the road east of the
bridge had become almost untenable because rifle and direct artillery fire coming from our
right flank. Just as it was beginning to look as though we might have a stalemate, Col.
Maloney was called back to La Fiere with all men available, leaving only about 34 men at
Chef-du-Pont. Concurrent with his departure three things happened:
One, direct artillery fire on our positions around the
creamery reduced our strength to 20 men; two, an observation point in the creamery noted
what was estimated to be a company of Germans movind around to our left rear. This threat
never materialized for they by-passed us in route to Ste. Mere Eglise where, though not
known to us at the time, a battle was being waged by elements of the 505th for
that important objective; three, an officer delivered a message from Gen. Gavin,
"hold at all costs." It was pretty obvious that it couldnt cost much more,
but at the same time, it was doubtful we could hold something we didnt have.
Reinforcements were requested, and as from heaven, C-47s began to appear, dropping bundles
of weapons and ammunition. One bundle of 60mm mortar ammunition dropped right in our laps.
Within 30 minutes, the officer who had previously delivered the "hold at all
costs" message returned with 100 men and a 57mm gun which was pulled into position on
our side of the bridge. We started firing at the enemy field piece. Im sure we
didnt hit it, but we stopped the firing and that is what we had to do in order to
survive.
At the beginning of this period of heavy shelling, I found
myself exposed with no place to go. I spotted a very small brick sentry house just short
of the bridge on our side. I made a dash for it and went inside and found a still burning
enemy soldier, victim of a white phosphorous grenade, which apparently had been tossed in
on him during earlier fighting. The house only had room for one man standing. So it became
crowded with my arrival and the other guy in there wasnt going anywhere. This
coupled with the fact that the smoke and stench from the burning man caused me to make a
quick decision that I would rather take my chances out in the open than risk the
consequences of smoke inhalation and besides I reasoned that this lone house was surely an
aiming point for the artillery. With our reinforcements, strong positions were organized
to our rear and along the flooded area on either side of the road and east of the bridge.
The defenses were tied in with natural obstacles on three sides of us. We opened fire with
every weapon we could get into position, including our 60mm mortar. On a prearranged
signal, all fires lifted and ten men and one officer stormed the bridge and went into
position on the western approach to guard the causeway. Five Germans made a run for it
down the deathtrap causeway and were immediately shot down. That did it. The battle was
over. The bridge was ours and we knew we could hold it. Bust as with all victories in war,
we shared a let down feeling. We knew it was still a long way to Berlin. We began to
organize and improve our position and tended to such pressing things as first aid to
wounded, 25 in number who could not be evacuated because of a lack of any place to
evacuate them. We gathered the bodies of the dead, Americans and Germans, and covered them
with parachutes. D-DAY was almost over and it had gone fast and in a little while, it
would be D+1. When would the beach forces come? They should have already done so. Maybe
the whole invasion had failed. After all, we knew nothing of the situation except as it
existed in Chef-du-Pont and Chef-du-Pont is a very small town.
At 2400 hours, our fears were dispelled. Reconnaissance
elements of the 4th Infantry Division wheeled into our creamery yard complete
with a few rations that they shared with us. As we dug in, and made ourselves comfortable
for a turn at short naps, the smell of death, which was to be with us for a long time to
come, had begun to permeate the night air. It was D+1 in Normandy. As I sat pondering the
days events, having been in command subsequent to Col. Ostbergs injury, I
reflected upon the details of the fighting and the bravery of every man participating in
it. Some had lost their lives, some others had been seriously wounded and lay inside the
creamery, perhaps wondering if they would ever be evacuated. We had done some things
badly, but overall with a hodgepodge of troops from several units who had never trained
together as a unit, didnt even know one another, and were engaged in their first
combat, we had done okay. We captured our bridge and held it.* We knew we faced D+1 with
confidence and anticipation.
Sources:
This account was written by Roy Creek shortly
after WWII
Pat ODonnell has conducted several
interviews with Col. Creek and they will be placed on the Drop Zone shortly to suppliment
this narrative.
*Editors note: The other side of the
causeway was seized by elements of the 508.
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