“We didn't have much of a chance to relax because we immediately began training for our next mission which was named Operation Market Garden. We had no clue that this operation was destined for disaster. It involved an airborne attack deep in the enemy's territory to be launched in conjunction with a ground attack by the British Second Army. The airborne attack was designed to place airborne troops along a narrow corridor extending aproximately 80 miles into Holland from Eindhoven northward to Arnhem. The airborne trrops were to secure bridges across a number of canals, as well as across three major rivers. The principal objective of the operation was to get Allied troops across the Rine River.”

Editor's Note: If you would like to access additional information relating to Operation Market Garden, you may begin by clicking here with an easy return with your back button. You may also review the Norman Arvidson stories relating to the Market Garden Operation by clicking here.

“As our heavily loaded Dakota Transports flew into the combat zone we encountered walls of flak that defy description. All Hell Broke Loose! Our plane was hit and severely damaged and we simultaneously got the signal to ‘jump.’ Out we went and because our relatively low altitude we were soon on the ground. I was apparently knocked unconscious in the process, probably by being hit in the head by my own Thomson machine gun. I woke up looking down the barrel of a rifle held by a member of the German SS. When you're looking up at a gun, you're thinking of what can I do to live? You're not thinking of dying.? If it is any consolation, I had lots of company as we began our journey to a succession of German prison camps.”