“I was both excited and frightened as we were briefed, loaded and transported to our drop zones in the C-47 “Dakota” transports. My group was dropped on the Cherbourg Peninsula. We departed about 2 o'clock in the morning. It was our mission to secure the western end behind Utah Beach and head off an eastern German advance. Many of the pilots were young and inexperienced, so when they encountered flack guns and dense fog, they hit the green light and we jumped. I was dropped miles from my original drop zone. I was lucky that I didn't land in the water as the Germans had flooded many of the farm fields that had been selected as drop zones. Hundreds of heavily loaded paratroopers dropped into flooded areas and drowned almost immediately.”

Editor's Note: If you wish to learn about related D-Day events you will find some information in the Norman Arvidson stories. Click here to access the Table of Contents for those selections with an easy return with your back button.

“After I landed, I hooked up with some other paratroopers and we made our way down the line looking for the 101st. It took me four days to get back to my original unit.”

“One experience I will never forget was my first encounter with a dead German. It was something. He was greenish in color. My stomach turned green, too. I didn't eat for 36 hours.”

“After spending 14 days in France, the 101st was sent back to England. We had a helluva good time when we got back. Our chances of survival were zilch, yet we were alive. It was worth celebrating.”