Walter Marlowe, 101st Airborne Division

Not dissapointinhg at all, sir! I suppose that one of the aims of such extensive training is to allow you to concentrate on doing your job and block everything else out.

I'm relatively young so my reference point for such things tends to be movies and TV shows such as Band of Brothers. As a student of psychology, I'm very interested in the emotiional and psychological reaction to war. I find it amazing that in the face of such danger, the vast majority of men followed their orders and kept fighting.

You say the emotion hit when you 'stood up jumpers'. Do you recall what those emotions were? I don't wnat you to talk about anything that makes you uncomfortable so no pressure to go into more detail.

Regards,

Tom

 

I really enjoy your anecdotes, Mr. Marlowe. Thank you again for your service and for sharing your story. I remember I had only gotten a few chances to speak with my grandfather about his experience during the war. He was also at Normandy ( one of the infantry ) but I have no idea what unit. Unfortunately, he's no longer with us, but I do enjoy hearing the stories of others of his generation, since they give me an idea of what life would have been like for him.

 

dear Mr.Marlowe,

i know this deosnt necessarilly have alot to do with your story ( which i have greatly enjoyed reading) but im fairly sure there was a character who played your part in the television mini series "Band of Brothers".

 

micus:

I doubt that Profesor Ambrose used any of my story in his Band of Brother Book.
It is possible that all junior officer had similar experiences on D Day.

Just my thoughts.

As Ever,

Walter L, Marlowe
Airborne all the Way

 

W. Marlowe: Something that has been in the wondering regions of my mind nowadays is the feeling of dropping from the sky and watching the ground get larger and closer with each passing second. Would you mind giving your thoughts on the feeling?

 

Micus, I believe Mr. Marlowe was with the 502nd, not the 506th depicted in the film or book.

Mr. Marlowe, Please do continue. I am interested in reading further of your experience. How much did Utah's landings missing their mark mess up the objective you were given?

 

Thank you Mr. Marlowe. In March 1941, my father made a deal to go in in place of his younger brother under the Selective Service Act you described above. He was assigned to the 13th Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division at Ft. Jackson SC...no choice. He had three months left of his one year active duty when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. When he and a couple other short-timers asked the First Sergeant, they were told, "you're in for the duration!"

Greg C.

 

Ladies and Gentelmen:

The morning of June 5 the weather continued to moderate. Per our company commanders instruction we had continued as if there was doubt June 5 would be the Time.

About 12:00 Hours Double British Summertime we recieved official word that it was ON.

Fred ask me to help him check the parapack on the bottoms of the plane about 2hours before Engine Start.

Wallace Stroble ths 2nd Platoon commander, reviewd my plans for completing the mission. I pointed ot to Wallace that our best method of disabling the castal guns would be to throw a thermite grenade into the breech and close the breech that it would be welded to the barrel. He agreed and promised to check before taking any action.

As Fred and I were checking para packs Major Ginder came uo and told that General Eisenhower was in the troop area and talking to Wallace and our men.

As we got back to the Troop area we General Esienhowed and the men being photographed. This phote became world famous. I have a copy of in my stuff. After the photo we were told that The General was here to see General Taylor.

We continued with pre flight preparations.

As Ever,

Walter L. Marlowe

( Airtborne all the Way)

 

Walter,
I have a feeling you all knew you were about to be stepping off into a major historical event, did you think about that much? Were you too busy to think about it? What was on your mind at this point?
Thank you for your posts,
John

 

surfarsami:

I have thought very much aboput what you asked about my thoughts on D Day. It may seem trite but I had gone to battalion comander and asked him if He did not think that this mission required a regular officer to be in charge. His answer was that he knew I could handle the job. He pointed out that I had returned to the states gathered repacement and delivered them to the UK. He bleaved that indicated that I had the needed leadership qualities.

As Ever,

Walter L. Marlowe

(Airborne all the Way)

 

Apparently he was right, I'm glad men like yourself were around when our country and the world needed them.
I in no way mean to infer that todays military has any less quality men, they are doing a great job. I guess every nation had it's men of character and high standard, even the "enemy".
Did his words of confidence in you help? Was he a good motivator and leader also?
Sorry about all the questions.
Respectfully,
John

 

Ladies and Gentelmen:

We completed our preflight inspection at about 19:00 hrs and we then went to chow. After chow the medics offered us a dose of motion sicknees medicine I decided not to take mine as I had heard it made you drowsey.

We then blackned our faces with a mixture of lindseed oil and powdered cocoa. We then drew ous chutes and started harnessing up. Most of the heavy stuff went outside the harness.

The first thing we put on over our uniform was a Mae West Life Vest this was required as we were flying over water.

After we were all decked out the smaller men could not walk well they just waddled and getteing the into the plane we needed help. We were in our aircraft by 22:00 Hrs double British Summertime. Engine start was 20 minutes later. We Took off 15minutes after engine start. Our aircraft formation was a V of Vs 9 planes wide. Our group would be 45 aircraft in a nine wide column. Our course was SE and we crossed the coastline of UK between Plymouth and Portsmaouth. All Navagation lighs were turned off as it was dark. We continues toward our checkpont Hoboken. At Hoboken we turned and flew between the Britainay and Normandy Pinsuelas. We then turned again to the NE and came into Normandy by the back door.

I got the warning light to stand up and hook up the jumpers. After we checked eqipment I looked out the door but could no see the ground.
When the piolet signelled jump we jumped after salvo the rack bundles and shoving out the door bundles.

Thwe fist thing I noticed that the Germant Anti Aircraft Tacers were green our would have been red. I tried to judge the ground but hit befor I was ready. I recovered and chamber a round into my Thompson. I Started down a Hedgerow in the direction of my planes flight looking for the peoplin my. Plane, the first person I foud was Sgt. Morrisone of my squad leader, I had hold his position at a junction of hedgerows and I would sendthe men to him,

Will Pause,

As Ever,

Walter L. Marlowe

Airborne all the Way

 

I always find it amazing how when the vets here tell there stories you can almost hear the gunfire and smell the cordite. Thanks for your insite.

 

Ladies and Gentelmen:

After I finished gathering what trooper I could find my count was 24 found in about an Hour. Zimmer came in with a dozen of his engineers but he had most of the demolition equiment. I explained that we were not any place near our drp zone. My men understod from our briefing that we had about 4(four) and 1/2 (one half ) hours to get the job done. I took my rain poncho off my pack and used to conceal the light frommy flashlight. From my map it appeared that we had missed the DZ about 2 kilometers. St. Marcouf was about 3 kilometers to the NE of where we landed.

I was able to compute a compass course toward the gun battery.
The first sqad was nearly intact and had them take the lead toward the battery with the scouts about 20 meters in the lead. We started across country, most of it was small hedgerow fields. in about 40 (forty) minutes
the Sqad leader reported the gun positions in sight. Zimmer and I went forward to look. The pillboxes looked deserted I told Zimmer that I would take the forst squad with me to check it out. He was to assualt the position and make it inoperable as he could. The first squad and I approached the postions we could see no movement. We went to ground whie 2 scouts checked out the position. They signeled all clear and Zimmer and I went forward to check this our. The position had been heavily bombed but tyhe guns were not in place. Zimmer suggested and I agreed that he would booby trap the position so it take Germans a long time before they could use the site. One of my seargeants ponted out the end of a rail spur coming into the position. My decision was to proceed down the rail spur toward the main rail line to see if the guns were someplace else.

After about 45 mins Zimmer told me that the position was not usable and we set off down the rail spur in about 20 minutes the scout repoter back that they could see loaded flat cars with abou 4 or 5 guards. I set up an assualt suggested that we take prisioners if possible. In the assualt three of the enemy were killed but we did take 3 priioners. The guns were there they made Chezcs Skoda Works for the Russians and captured by the Germans in the Crimeria. As planned we threw Thermite grenades up the breech and closed the breech so that the breech was welded to barrel.

We foud 3 box care of ammunition near the guns. Zimmer wired them up for demolitio with a time fuse to off about 10AM local time. I then set the scouts in the direction of exit 4 but time was running short.

As Ever,

Walter L. Marlowe

( Airborne all the Way)

 

Hello Mr. Marlowe,
I hope all is well with you as I am noticing the last post date. I miss reading you posts. Praying you and your family are well!
John

 

I just recently joined this forum and this is the first account of someone who actually fought in the war I read on here.
First of all I would like to thank you for sharing all this, it truly is a great read.

I'm wondering now though, you said you trained men in Scotland with who you were not allowed to talk (Except when giving instructions).

These weren't Norwegians by any chance, were they ?

 

jelli18180:

Some of them appeared to Be scandenaian but I would have no Idea if they were Norway People.

The Royal Navy was in charge and I believe they all reported to Adim. Montbattan.

My Captain suggestion was to develope loss of memory about all we worked with.

As Ever,

Walter L. Marlowe

( Airborne all the way)

 

Ladies and Gentelman:

I am now back a somewhat normal mode. My Grandaughter observed that I am not at my best in Early June of any year.

To continue with the D Day episode. After the shore bombardment I pushe a patrol up to the Village of St. Marcouf shortly after noon I meth the Recon Unit of the 8th Infantry of the 4th Division that had come across the beach at Exit 1. Their Commander and I went over the map and I lent two scouts familiar with the area if he returneed them to me by sundown.
I ten made radio contact over his radio to my Battalion commander who suggested that after dark I rejoin the regiment at Heisville and dig in on the left flank of E Company.

Just after nauticle twilight I sarted the movement toward Heisville. It took about 3 hours to get there as instructed I dug in and reported to the battalion commander. He told me that he had recover eight (8) of my men and they would rejionme at first light. He further stated that General Taylor had alerted regiment to prepart for a rout march toward Carentan on June 8.

We had been told in England that our follow on mission would be to secure Carentan so that Omaha and Utah beaches could be connected. I asked about ammo resupply and artillery support. He assured me that he was working on it.

Must Pause,

As Ever,
Walter L. Marlowe

(Airborne all the Way)