65th anniversary of D-Day 101st airborne Sector In the Heart of the Landing Beaches

Thursday 4 June ANGOVILLE-AU-PLAIN : 11:30 : WWII reenacted parachute jump from C-47 aircraft on the original Drop Zone 'D'

Friday, 5 June SAINT-COME-DU-MONT : Opening three day outdoor exhibition at the D-Day Paratrooper Historical Center in the field at Dead Man’s Corner. The 3rd Battalion of the 506th PIR, Airborne Medics Airborne War Correspondents & Special Motion Pictures Unit

CARENTAN : 21:30 Liberation Ball. Salle des Fetes at the Port of . Open to all, dancing to the Swing Dance Orchestra. Singers include Flash Back and Kelly Ann Sproult to give a true 1940's ambience. US Veterans attending.

Saturday 6 June SAINT-COME-DU-MONT : Opening three day outdoor exhibition at the D-Day Paratrooper Historical Center in the field at Dead Man’s Corner. 101 Airborne meeting and book release: ‘Tonight We Die As Men’ and it’s companion DVD ‘The Forgotten Battalion,’ at Dead Man’s Corner Museum. Bill Galbraith, 506th PIR, 101st Airborne Division Manny Barrios 506th PIR, 101st Airborne Division Ralph Bennett, 506th PIR, 101st Airborne Division

Sunday 7 June SAINT-COME-DU-MONT : 10 h 00 : 500 Paratroops of the ‘BIA March’ gather in the village for the ceremony to Joe Beyrle. Arrival of the veterans and Honor Guard. 15 h 15 : Marchers arrive at «Dead Man’s Corner Museum» to form up for final phase. 15 h 45 : Marchers move down Purple Heart Lane in formation to Carentan.

CARENTAN : 9 h 00 : Depart of the BIA, Place du Grand Valnoble (registered participants only) 16 h 30 : Recreation of the famous medal ceremony in the square at Carentan. Arrival of the veterans and Honor Guard. Followed by a short ceremony attended by town officials.

Brothers in Arms March V Road to Carentan

In the footsteps of the 101st Airborne Division

The Carentan Historical Foundation in association with the D-Day Paratrooper Historical Center and the Municipalities of Carentan and Saint-Côme-du-Mont in Normandy is organizing its 5th annual march on Sunday 7th June 2009. The 18km trek follows the historic trail carved out by the 101st Airborne Division as its soldiers fought bravely to liberate the region in 1944.

This being the 65th anniversary of D-Day we are expecting more than five hundred participants to take part. The marchers who include people from the USA and Japan will be dressed in US Airborne clothing (authentic to the period) to commemorate the sacrifice of the young American paratroopers who went on to capture Carentan.

The day will start in the heart of the battlefield at Saint-Côme-du-Mont with a ceremony to honor Technical Sergeant Joseph R. Beyrle. Joe was a paratrooper from the famous 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, who was taken prisoner after he landed on the church roof on June 6th 1944 by German paratroopers from the 6 FJR.

Three of his comrades in arms will be making a special trip from the USA (two of them for the first time since the war) to participate at the ceremony and to promote a new book ‘Tonight We Die As Men’ and it’s companion DVD ‘The Forgotten Battalion,’ at Dead Man’s Corner Museum, about their exploits in Normandy during June 1944.

Bill Galbraith, 506th PIR, 101st Airborne Division Manny Barrios 506th PIR, 101st Airborne Division Ralph Bennett, 506th PIR, 101st Airborne Division

TONIGHT WE DIE AS MEN THE UNTOLD STORY OF THIRD BATTALION 506 PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT FROM TOCCOA TO D-DAY By Ian Gardner and Roger Day

Taking their title from a brief prayer by 3rd Battalion C.O. Lt. Col. Robert Lee Wolverton (who would be killed during the early morning hours of D-Day) said shortly before boarding their C-47 "Skytrain" aircraft for the flight to Normandy, Gardner and Day have produced a highly detailed study of one battalion's harrowing first weeks fighting in . As Ed Shames, a veteran of the 506th, writes in the Foreword, Tonight We Die As Men is "the most detailed history ever written about the battles that began the drive to free the European continent of the German armies. Many books and accounts have been written about the invasion of Normandy, but never have you read one that has been more accurate about the facts and events of this period of warfare." The battalion's D-Day objective was to land at Drop Zone ‘D’, east of Saint-Côme-du- Mont and seize control of two small wooden bridges - one for foot traffic and the other for vehicles - over the Douve River east of Carentan. The mission was vital, for the Germans had built the bridges a few months earlier to enable them to rush reinforcements into the coastal area in the event of an Allied landing. The fierce and costly battle for these two bridges is the focus of Tonight We Die As Men. The Germans, too, knew the importance of the bridges and would not relenquish them without an all-out fight. The two British authors take the reader back to Toccoa, Georgia, and the initial training received (some would say endured) by the men of the 506th PIR, commanded by Col. Robert F. Sink, then on to airborne training at Fort Benning and Camp Mackall. They also flesh out the personalities mentioned in the book so that by the time the regiment is in England and preparing for its baptism of fire in Normandy, the reader has developed a fondness for each trooper. This personalizing of the men also serves to intensify the feeling of loss when the soldiers are killed in the savage fighting on D-Day and the month after. Of the 575 officers and men who jumped on D-Day, the unit lost 93 killed and 73 listed as missing in action. Scores more were wounded. It will be hard to find a better book about a single airborne battalion in World War II. Mason B. Webb WWII History Magazine

The marchers will then step back in time to discover the Norman Bocage that was so familiar to the soldiers of 101st Airborne. The final leg of the event takes the participants, lead by tanks and a host of military vehicles including a L-4 airplane - down the now famous "Purple Heart Lane" across the Douve bridges before ending in Carentan.

All participants please note: US Para and airborne troops combat uniform, 101st Airborne Division is required.

At 15:15 approx, members of the public can expect to see the marchers lead by their vehicle escort arriving in ‘Purple Heart Lane’ for the final leg of the event before crossing over the Douve bridges and finishing in Carentan at 16:00.

BIA March Information & registration: Carentan Historical Foundation Email : [email protected] Tel : +33.2.33.42.00.42

T/4 Joseph R. “Jumpin Joe” BEYRLE “I” Company, 506th PIR, 101st Airborne Division

Joe Beyrle is thought to be the one of only a west back down the line of flight where he handful of American soldiers to have served in hoped to locate other members of his stick. both the United States Army and the Soviet During the hours before daybreak he located Army in World War II. “The invasion of and attempted to destroy a mobile generator Normandy was on,” recalled Joe (who has near the center of town and using hand since passed away). “We flew approximately grenades attacked a group of Germans who 90 minutes from England before crossing the were gathering nearby. Whilst trying to find a Normandy Peninsula. Flying at approximately safe way out of the town he crawled through a 700 feet the formation started taking AA and hedgerow and stumbled into a well-defended ground fire. Several of our planes were hit and German MG42 position and was surrounded exploded or crashed. We got the stand-up and by enemy paratroopers and taken prisoner. hook-up, red light, green light and jumped at Faking a back injury, two of the enemy approximately 400 feet directly over the town soldiers took him to an aid station in the town of Saint-Côme-du-Mont.” Under fire from a recently established and run by his battalion machine gun located in the church tower he surgeon Dr Stanley Morgan, who had also landed on the church and slid feet first down been captured by the Germans. After a failed it’s high-pitched roof but somehow managed to escape attempt he was marched to a nearby check his fall. A barn was burning some prisoner-holding area before being taken to a distance away at Tammerville, lighting up the German underground HQ in an apple orchard area, and the Germans had now turned their south of Saint-Côme for interrogation. fire in its direction. Alone, Joe decided to head

Pfc. Manuel M. “Manny” BARRIOS “I” Company, 506th PIR 101st Airborne Division

Flying into Normandy on D-Day, twenty- treat him. His ordeal came to an end after two year old Manny was on Joe Beyrle’s being discovered by soldiers from the 101st plane and landed in a garden on the eastern as they pushed forward into Saint-Côme. edge of Saint-Côme-du-Mont. Alone and He was evacuated back to England by separated from the rest of the stick he spent hospital ship around June 10th and returned the next three days fighting for survival to active duty six months later at Bastogne. until being injured by allied shellfire Manny lives in Whittier, California where (ironically on his 23rd birthday). Seriously he is an active member of the 101st wounded by shrapnel, Manny encouraged Southern California Chapter. a passing German doctor (at gunpoint) to

Sgt. Ralph BENNETT “H” Company, 506th PIR 101st Airborne Division

As a 60mm mortar sergeant, Ralph the German 6th Parachute Regiment Bennett’s job in Normandy was to provide together with the 17th SS began a fearsome direct fire support to 3rd platoon H but unsuccessful counter attack on Company. He was among the lucky few Carentan. After promotion to 3rd platoon who landed on drop zone D and actually sergeant Ralph went on to win a Silver Star made it to the road bridge at Brévands. in Holland and played an active part in the From first light on June 6th his team played defence of Bastogne. In 1945 he returned a vital defensive role until the bridge was to the UK and married his English partially destroyed by an allied air attack sweetheart June Earl. on D +1. Ralph took part in the horrific Ralph lives in Highland, Michigan with battle of ‘bloody gully’ on June 13th when June and their four children.

Pvt. William P. “Bill” GALBRAITH “I” Company, 506th PIR, 101st Airborne Division

Machine gunner Bill Galbraith landed on Anna. After being promoted and the southwestern edge of drop zone D and transferred to S3 (Bn Planning & begrudgingly joined with the 501 for the Operations) Bill’s war ended in Holland attack on the La Barquette locks. He when on September 18th he was seriously returned to 3/506 on the evening of 8th wounded while entering the outskirts of June only to find that they had been totally Eindhoven by German artillery. After decimated. He also fought at ‘bloody spending three years in hospital Bill finally gully’ on June 13th and recalls, “I don’t married Anna in 1948 - just after think there were more than 28 of us left in Christmas. Bill now lives in Murrieta, I Co after the battle”. While on leave after California with Anna and their nine Normandy Bill met and fell in love with children.

Press release : Saint-Côme-du-Mont, Normandy 65th anniversary of D-Day

TONIGHT WE DIE AS MEN

EXPOSITION

Dead Man’s Corner Museum

Friday 5, Saturday 6 & Sunday 7 June 2009

The D-Day Paratrooper Historical Center in association with the Dead Man’s Corner Museum and the Municipality of Saint-Côme-du-Mont in Normandy is organizing a three day outdoor exhibition from Friday 5 June until Sunday 7 June 2009 at Dead Man’s Corner Museum.

FREE ENTRANCE

Information : Carentan Historical Foundation Email : [email protected] Tel : +33.2.33.42.00.42

Displays

The 3rd Battalion of the 506th PIR, 101st Airborne Division

D-Day, the 3rd battalion of the 506th PIR jumped over Saint-Côme-du-Mont. Their objective was to seize and take control of two small wooden bridges crossing the Douve River east of Carentan. The mission was vital. The Germans had built the bridges a few months earlier to enable them to rush reinforcements into the coastal area in the event of an Allied landing. Rare memorabilia and photographs relating to the exploits of these elite paratroopers in Normandy are presented to the public together with a new and incredible book ‘Tonight We Die As Men’. Written by Ian Gardner and Roger Day this is a highly detailed study of one battalion's harrowing first weeks fighting in France. To accompany the book and unveiled publicly for the first time is ‘The Forgotten Battalion’ - a new film in which nine surviving third battalion veterans tell their own frank and moving story from Toccoa to D-Day. To further enhance the exhibition, a living history group will be recreating camp life to commemorate the sacrifice of the young American soldiers who went on to capture Carentan. Bill Galbraith, Manny Barrios and Ralph Bennett, all three from the 506th PIR, 101st Airborne Division will be making a special trip from the USA (two of them for the first time since the war) to participate in this event and to meet with the public.

Airborne Medics

Organic airborne medical units supported the 101st Airborne Divisions during World War II. The equipment and techniques that were employed during this period are being presented in a display accompanied by a living history group recreating a medical evacuation station - commemorating the sacrifice of the young American soldiers.

Airborne War Correspondents & Special Motion Pictures Unit

In June 1944, The Special Motion Picture Unit operated from its base camp in Carentan - conveniently situated between Utah and Omaha beaches. To highlight the incredible work done by Hollywood filmmaker George Stevens we are showing the extraordinary color footage shot by his special unit of Army cameramen during the Allied invasion of Normandy. There will also be a display of memorabilia and equipment from Army Signal Corps airborne war correspondents. A living history group wil recreate George Stevens’ and his Army Signal Corps Special Motion Picture Unit - commemorating the sacrifice of the young American soldiers.