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Posted on 12/21/2004 10:38:14 PM PST by SAMWolf
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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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| Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support. The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer. If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions. We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.
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The daring parachute drop by 20 pathfinders was critical to the defense of the town of Bastogne in December 1944.  Jake McNiece In December 1944 the weather around Bastogne had been consistently foul. Day after day, visibility had been very low -- too low to risk dropping supplies into the perimeter surrounded by the besieging Germans. Nearly 60 years later, it is still most commonly believed that a fortuitous break in the heavy cloud cover made a drop possible. In truth, the drop's success had more to do with the skill and bravery of a handful of pathfinders than a break in the clouds. Prior to the Battle of the Bulge, McNiece and the other pathfinders had been members of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment's demolition section. Their antics on and off the battlefield had made them regimental legends. They wore Mohawk haircuts and war paint when they jumped into Normandy in June 1944. They were proud to be called the "Filthy 13." Combat during the 101st Airborne Division's grueling 72 days on the line in Holland in the fall of '44 had reduced the 13 to three. When McNiece, always something of a rebel, returned to the 101st's camp at Mourmelon, France, in December after overstaying a three-day pass, his military superiors decided something had to be done. And it was not enough to demote him to private first class as they had done after his first extended absence without leave following the Normandy invasion. As McNiece threw his gear on his bunk, his friend Frank "Shorty" Mihlan ran into the tent to tell him that the 506th Regimental Headquarters Company commander wanted to see him. "They want to send you to England," Mihlan blurted out. "Oh, is England where they are going to hang me?" McNiece quipped to his friend. "That's not exactly it, Jake," Mihlan replied. "It's almost that though. They would like for you to volunteer for parachute pathfinding service." McNiece reported to Captain Gene Brown, his company commander, as ordered. The first thing he did after saluting was ask his commander, "What happened to all those guys who volunteered for this BS up in Holland?" "When they came back, they un-volunteered," Brown explained.  Brown admired McNiece, but after disciplinary problems in the regiment in Holland, pressure had mounted to clean house of troublemakers. In fact, the division commander, Maj. Gen. Maxwell Taylor, had just flown back to Washington to report on, among other things, the conduct of some of his men in Holland. When Brown asked McNiece to volunteer for the pathfinders, he promised McNiece that he could retain his rank (if he ever attained any) and leave the 506th with a clean record. The offer did not impress McNiece, but he told the captain he would think it over. He returned to his quarters to ponder his options. Although pathfinder operations were considered suicide missions, he figured that the war was nearly over and there would be little need for further airborne drops. An added benefit was that the pathfinder school was located at the 9th Troop Carrier Command's base at Chalgrove, England. The idea of sleeping between clean sheets and eating good Army Air Forces food was appealing. He quickly returned to Brown and accepted his offer. Brown then asked McNiece if he would talk Max Majewski into going with him. McNiece said he had his own reasons for volunteering but would not try to convince anyone else. As it turned out, he did not have to. McNiece had considerable influence in the company. When Majewski asked why he had volunteered, McNiece explained his logic and before long Majewski also signed up.  Upon receiving word of the German's Ardennes offensive, men of the 101st Airborne were given 24 hours notice to move to the Bastogne area in Belgium. This print commemorates the efforts of the Artillery of the 101st in stopping the German offensive cold. Soon Jack Agnew heard that McNiece had volunteered, and he did too, no questions asked. "Hell, he's not going without me," Agnew said. He was one of the original Filthy 13 and had joined McNiece's section back in the States. The Irish-born Agnew could fly a plane, drive a boat or fix any engine. He was also the company's crack shot. As word of McNiece's new assignment spread through the company, others quickly volunteered. William Coad and John Dewey, who had been assigned to McNiece's section for the Holland jump, signed up. Finally, Lieutenant Schrable Williams, who had been with the platoon since its training days in Toccoa, Ga., came in to ask why half of his demolition platoon had volunteered for pathfinder training. McNiece explained their reasoning and the lieutenant also joined the group. The volunteers reported to the 9th Troop Carrier Command's pathfinder group at Chalgrove in December 1944 to begin their training. Shortly after their arrival, McNiece reported to Captain Frank L. Brown, commander of the pathfinder detachment. To McNiece's surprise, the captain offered him first sergeant's stripes.  "Boy, somebody's been pulling your leg," replied an amazed McNiece. "What do you mean I've been recommended? I've been in here for nearly three years now and ain't even made pfc yet. I'm not first sergeant material; I'm the biggest goof-off in the Army." "I'm in here for the same reason as you," Brown said. "I'm a goof-off. I don't care about military discipline, saluting or picking up cigarettes and all that. We've got 400 goof-offs here. They told me that you have been through this thing since Normandy and that you can whip this group into shape and get it right and ready quick."  The members of the 101st Airborne Division, right, are on guard for enemy tanks, on the road leading to Bastogne, Belgium. They are armed with bazookas. 23 Dec 1944. "It sounds like we might be dealing right on the table," McNiece said, and he accepted the captain's offer with some conditions. "I want good food. I want good, reasonable quarters and I want these people to have an almost permanent pass as long as they will respect it. The first thing they're going to do is take a three-day pass to London." "How many of these guys do think we'll get back?" Brown asked. "You'll get back all of them except the ones that are in jail, and just as quick as the police notify us, we'll go get them," McNiece answered. "They are a good bunch of men. They're just field soldiers -- combat men, not garrison. They have been behind enemy lines for 72 days. They need to get into town and let some steam off." "Well, I'll tell you what I'll do," Brown said. "I'll get you a pass book and you can let everybody in here have a three-day pass without destination, but you've got to stay here and get these sticks organized and a training program set up. When they get back then you can go."
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Morning.
Survived FOUR combat jumps?
That uses alotta luck there.. or gives angels grey hair.
Pick one.
What a story! The writer really puts you in the heart of the operation. And now I know where "Hollywierd" got it's idea for the Dirty Dozen (quite a stretch!).
"I don't need good luck," McNiece replied to the colonel, "I need a miracle!"
Amen!
What a moment it must have been to have members of the 506th PIR meet with members of the 101st Airborne 60 year later at Sainte-Mere-Eglise, France. Stories like these are so inspirational.
BTW, last Sunday I took my family out to dinner and as we were walking into the resturant out came a uniformed member of the 101st (beret, pants tucked into his military boots, etc.) I told him, "thanks for your service to our country". He was a little taken but said, "you're welcome". If this kid was a day over 18yrs. old then I'm 29. So young!
Anyway, great work guys!
PS
Iris,
Thanks for your response from last night on the Christie system. Excellent research. I really got my question answered . . . "big time". All the technology and fire power that goes into these tanks is for not if you don't have the wheels! ;^)
Morning Snippy. Ready to unload and put up fixtures. :-)
Good Morning Radu.
What are you getting your cats for Christmas?
I don't know the number of times over the last two years I've teared up working on a thread or reading comments and FReep-mails. Gets real emotional sometimes.
You're welcome in our cooler anytime Neil.
Good work on the Tribute.
Morning GailA.
Your prepared for snow in Memphis?
Morning E.G.C.
Cloudy today, looks like more rain.
Good Morning...Snippy. ;o)
The James Moffatt translation of Proverbs 12:13,14
"By sins of the lips bad men get into trouble; good men get out of trouble. A man reaps the results of all his words . . ."
Morning alfa6.
Thanks for some really good cartoons today.
Never got called up for "Santa Duty", but we would have been ready. ;-)
Words can't break bones, but they can break hearts
There are times when those injuries are worse than broken bones.
Thanks for the update and heads up, RaceBannon.
Morning aomagrat.
I had a model of the USS Boise. Linbergh Line kit I think.
Great night shot!
You're welcome, mark502inf. Thanks for your visits to the Foxhole.
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Morning Gridlock.
Morning Feather.
Randy: Can I get you something?
Second Jive Dude: 'S'mofo butter layin' me to da' BONE!
Jackin' me up... tight me!
Randy: I'm sorry, I don't understand.
First Jive Dude: Cutty say 'e can't HANG!
Jive Lady: Oh stewardess! I speak jive.
Randy: Oh, good.
Jive Lady: He said that he's in great pain and he wants to know if you can help him.
Randy: All right. Would you tell him to just relax and I'll be back as soon as I can with some medicine?
Jive Lady: Jus' hang loose, blood. She gonna catch ya up on da' rebound on da' med side.
Second Jive Dude: What it is, big mama? My mama no raise no dummies. I dug her rap!
Jive Lady: Cut me some slack, Jack! Chump don' want no help, chump don't GET da' help!
First Jive Dude: Say 'e can't hang, say seven up!
Jive Lady: Jive ass dude don't got no brains anyhow! Hmmph!
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