Honorary Rank

Host of 'The American Road to Victory'

invested with honorary rank in U.S Army

'Morning Briefing' Diana von Seibold

Ellwood von Seibold has been notified by The U.S Military Attache to France, that he is to be invested as an honorary captain in the U.S Army.

It appears that these honorary awards are usually reserved for civilians who have distinguished themselves in connection with their support for the military, or their portrayals of historic military events.

Ellwood who works tirelessly year round, touring the D-Day battlefields with American visitors, was delighted and stunned at the news, "This is a tremendous honor. I have always felt I was a custodian of this amazing history and  I look forward daily, to explaining these momentous events to my wonderful tour parties."

In addition to his rigorous touring schedule, over the last three years, Ellwood has found the time to host a trilogy of battlefield tour films, 'The American Road to Victory' which have been airing on PBS stations from coast to coast.

U.S Military Attache to France, Bruce Sweeney, said of Ellwood,



"I decided to offer Elwood an honorary Captaincy in the US Army due to
his service to the DAO, his dedication to telling the accurate story of
US military operations during WWI and WWII (all sides of the story,
including negative ones), and his dedication to truth as a historian.
Ellwood is an interesting, effective story teller, and has forgotten
more about D-Day and WWII than I probably know."

Colonel Sweeney, pins on badges of rank.

Climbing Pointe du Hoq Mike Forster

"Nothing has been too much for our intrepid presenter," said director  Lanni, "Whether hanging off  Pointe du Hoq on a makeshift rope ladder, or freezing in foxholes in Bastogne, he has approached every scene with an enthusiasm and passion. It is fantastic that Ellwood  received this honorary officer rank. He is that crazy history teacher one seldom had, but never forgot."

Ellwood with Ride 2 Recovery vets

Recently Ellwood welcomed the Ride 2 Recovery Challenge veterans to his home town of Ste Mere Eglise. Each one was presented with a copy of 'The Americans on D-Day.'

The ceremony took place at the American Embassy in Paris on July 28th. It was followed by a champagne reception.

Superb tribute to Infantrymen,'Grunts' Now in paperback.

This amazing tribute to the 'Infantryman' is now in paperback. John C. McManus explains, with alarming clarity, how boots on the ground, and not technology, win wars. From WWII to the modern day combat in Iraq, McManus gives the reader a clear insight into the minds of the courageous foot soldiers, who often up close and personal with their adversaries, get the job done. Reading this book is the nearest you want to get to real combat.


Livingbattlefield.org

D-Day +35

The Battle for Mont Castre and Hill 122 mentioned in the previous post had been won, but at a high price. Four thousand Gi's lay dead and many more were severely wounded. Armored support had aided the capture of this strategic area, but the battleground was strewn with the wreckage of Sherman tanks.

La Haye du Puits Nat'l Archives

The capture of these heights enabled the 82nd Airborne to move in with the 79th Infantry Division and take the important town of La Haye du Puits. This would be the 82nd's last engagement in Normandy. They were exhausted and their ranks severely depleted, but they had proved themselves effective shock troops, an inspiration to their infantry counterparts and fierce adversaries to the stubborn Germans. 

The 83rd Infantry Division together with the 4th Infantry Division had finally taken Sainteny and now  continued their inch by inch battle.

On their left flank, the 29th Infantry Division ,who had been mauled on Bloody Omaha, moved forward with the 30th Infantry Division, making progress towards the important objective of St Lo. They had experienced their share of murderous hedgerow fighting and lost many men en-route. 

Airel bridge, modern day

Airel bridge Nat'l Archives

Unfortunately, advancing across the narrow bridge at Airel, they clashed with men from the U.S 3rd Armored division who, in their forward thrust, cast aside the bedraggled soldiers of the 30th. With their heavy tanks and support vehicles, they ran over communication wires and failed at all levels to co-ordinate with soldiers from the 30th. The 3rd was just desperate to get into the fight. Historian John C. McManus, in his book The Americans at Normandy reports 30th Division General, Leland Hobbs, as accusing the 3rd Armored of creating casualties amongst his men by their 'promiscuous fire.' He was so frustrated, he ordered artillery called in by the 30th to be laid down regardless of where 3rd armor that might be in the area. 

 If they do it to us, we do it to them!

KO'd panther tank, Nat'l Archives

Things were about to get worse as more and more reinforcements from the 2nd SS panzer division 'Das Reich' began flooding into the area. By July 11th, the Americans had taken Hauts Vents, inflicting heavy casualties on the Germans, but sustaining high levels as well. 

The Americans were inching ever nearer their objective of St Lo, but hedgerow country and fanatical Germans would cause them to invest heavily for each piece of ground taken.

Friendly fire, a regrettably feature of all warfare, would become a major factor in the bold 'break out' plan being meticulously prepared at the highest level.

Curtis Culin

One ray of light, a much needed solution to the problems of the Allied tanks ability to penetrate the dense bocage, had been developed by a sergeant from New Jersey, Curtis G. Culin. Taking German steel obstacles that littered the beaches, Culin found that they could be shaped and welded to the front of a tank, enabling it to cut through hedgerows. These tanks became known as 'Rhinos'

Rhino Nat'l Archives

Patton Arrives in France

National Archives

 July 6th 1944, General George S. Patton, Jr, arrived in France as head of Third Army, an army that he had neither seen nor had the chance to prepare. Much to his disappointment, he had missed D-Day, but he was finally going to have his chance to get into the fight. For months, he had been at the head of the phantom U.S. 1st Army group,  part of 'Operation Fortitude'. In his opinion, he had done his penance for the 'slapping incident' and now he was straining at the leash.

Traveling with 'Willie' his bull terrier and  his history of 'The Norman Conquest', Patton  had boarded the C47 in England wondering if there was still going to be a war when he got to France. There was, and he was going to play a major part in it, but he would have to cool his heels a while longer.

He landed at an airstrip beside Omaha Beach and was escorted to Bradley's CP. The relationship between the two men was cordial, but Patton had been Bradley's boss in Sicily and now the tables were turned. Patton took a back seat during his meeting with Bradley. He kept quiet while Generals discussed tactics and poured over maps and situation reports. He was determined not to rock the boat. After all, he was at last in France and he desperately wanted to get into the action.

Map on display at Camp Patton

Apple Orchard, one original tree remains

Patton's third army HQ was an apple orchard on the outskirts of Nehou, a small village. This compound became known as 'Camp Patton'. Strict secrecy was to be maintained. No one was to know of the arrival of the great general. As far as the Germans were concerned he was still in England preparing for the real invasion in the Pas de Calais. That was probably the main reason for the secrecy, but it was widely rumored that George Patton was not to be given any limelight, on the strict orders of Eisenhower himself.

Sherman tank at Camp Patton

Monument at Camp Patton

It would be some weeks before Patton got into the action that he so craved.

Wounded Warriors on Epic Normandy Ride

Veteran Nathan Hunt

This week, 130 injured U.S veterans, with spouses, family members and supporters, have been cycling around Normandy’s historic landmarks.

This is no sedate trip around country lanes, but a grueling, six day, 240 mile ride, interspersed with history lessons.

The cyclists, many of whom are amputees, ride a mixture of hand cycles, tandems and traditional road bikes.

Veterans fold a 48 star flag, courtesy David Ashe

“This is not a race, it’s a ride” said Debora Spano, the Ride 2 Recovery spokes-person, “We help these injured warriors to challenge themselves both physically and mentally. When the ride is over, they take their bikes home and keep training.


We chose Normandy because of it’s glorious past and the connection between the sacrifices of ‘The Greatest Generation’ and those of our modern day heroes. Our riders have just devoured all this history.”

“I stood looking at the rows of white graves in the American cemetery, over 9000 and I thought, these guys did this for us” said Medal of Honor recipient, Salvatore Giunta of Iowa. Sal is the first living recipient of the nation’s highest award since The Vietnam war, a volunteer with Ride 2 Recovery and a great source of encouragement for all his comrades.

Tourists and locals looked on in amazement as the riders rolled into the famous town of Sainte Mere Eglise. “We will never forget how you Americans gave us back our freedom,” said Mayor Lefevre in his address to the group, “I just wish you could stay with us longer.”

Kenny Butler lines up with fellow veterans

The riders did have time to visit the local museum and participate in the folding of a 48 star WWII flag, before heading off on yet another leg of their epic journey.

The ride will finish in Caen on Wednesday July 6^th, but, as a reward for all their exertions, the riders will be at the finish line of Stage 6 of the ‘Tour de France’ in Lisieux, Normandy on Thursday July 7^th.

With their awe inspiring display of endurance and determination, the riders have won the hearts of the people of Normandy, just as their forefathers did 67 years ago.

The trip was made possible by United Healthcare and American Airlines, Air Compassion for Veterans.

Livingbattlefield.org

D-Day+28

swampy approach

As day broke on July 4^th 1944, the American armies jumped off on their continued inch-by-inch battle of the hedgerows. The 331^st Infantry Regiment of the 38^th Infantry Division were positioned just South of the small village of Meautis. 

German artillery behind these trees

The German 6^th paratroop regiment von der Heydte were waiting for them.

 Preceded by a preliminary artillery barrage, and accompanied by a couple of medium tanks, the Americans headed into the swampy ground, toward the farmhouse of Les Ormeaux.

There is a good, first hand description of the battle for Les Ormeaux farm and how it repeatedly changed hands at this site.

On the 331st's left flank, the 330^th Regiment would launch their attack down the main Carentan-Perriers road to try and seize the small town of Santeny, located just 9kms south of Carentan. This town was held by the 17th SS panzer grenadiers, aided by panther tanks from the dreaded 2^nd SS ‘Das Reich’. 

the pharmacy is now a salon

By evening, the attack on Sainteny had stalled on the outskirts of the village, but a pfc, Tony Vaccaro, a keen photographer, wanted to develop his film. He made his way into the town, which was still under fire, and found a pharmacy. With the butt of his rifle, he broke the window. He climbed in and found the chemicals he needed. 

On arriving back at his foxhole, Tony borrowed some helmets from his buddies and set to work developing his film, which he hung on the branch of a tree. “It was a dark night with no moon,” recalled Vaccaro, "and we were still trading artillery with the enemy, but  I managed to develop my photographs” 

artifacts from the Sainteny area

The attacks and counterattacks on Sainteny would continue until July 10^th, when with the help of the 4th Infantry Division, the town fell to the Americans.

 Further West, the 90^th Infantry Division were on the outskirts of the village of St Jore. They had been bloodied all the way after crossing the Merderet River  and They were about to experience their most ferocious combat to date, the battle for Mont Castre, known as Hill 122, which rises 300 feet above sea level. The Germans, who held this hill, maintained an unrivaled vantage point, which had to be taken by advancing American forces. Yet again the weary paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne would have to come to the rescue. 

German view from hill of road leading to Periers (Nat'l Archives photo)

Overall, the whole advance was starting to stall. The enemy were still in a position to maneuver despite Allied air supremacy. They had a relatively intact communications system and their supplies were still getting through. The weather had been atrocious with a deluge of rain, which made areas of already marshy ground often impassable. The Germans had also demonstrated their willingness to defend positions regardless of cost.

US National Archives

Poor visibility had hampered Allied aerial patrols. In addition, numerous American tanks were being lost to German attack as they ‘bellied up’ over the hedgerows, presenting their lightly armored underside to enemy panzer grenadiers.

The pressure was mounting on General Bradley to do something bold and decisive, fast!