Chapter 22: Bridges and buzz bombs
In Chapter 22, Art and the 332nd Engineers complete repairs at Cherbourg and move into France.
1. The account of Patton emphasizing the need for fuel to General Lee was recounted by one of the 332nd veterans.
2. The account of unofficial requisitioning is as described by Warren Babcock.
3. We do not know exactly when Art's M1 rifle was run over by the half-track and when he started carrying the BAR, but it seems most likely that it occurred during the straffing as reportedly several tents were run over by vehicles during the chaos.
4. The incident where the crew came under fire and had to crawl to safety with only the tracks for cover was documented in the unit history of the 332nd Engineers.
5. The incident with the run-away train car was documented in the unit history of the 332nd Engineers.
6. The stories of men who snapped under the pressure or drank too much are from the unit history of the 332nd Engineers and accounts by Art and other veterans of the outfit.
7., The stories of the V1 rockets are from the unit history of the 332nd Engineers and Warren Babcock of H&S Company.
8. The shooting of the captured spy as reported by one of the 332nd Engineer H&S Company veterans.
Media and Web links:
1. Figure 22-1 Video: Watch video about the gasoline supply issues in the summer and fall of 1944.
2. Figure 22-3 Video: Watch a video about repair of train tracks and bridges in France.
3. Figure 22-4 Web: Learn more about the survey crew of the 332nd Engineers.
4. Figure 22-7 Web: Read the original letter where Art tells Jenny she can use his shotgun.
5. Figure 22-8 Video: Watch a video about the welcome the GIs received in some French towns and villages.
6. Figure 22-9 Video: Watch a video about "advancing right off the map."
7. Figure 22-10 Video: Watch a video where a French soldier describes how his outfit was told to move ahead "to take Paris".
8. Figure 22-13 Video: Watch a video about Operation Market Garden.
9. Figure 22-14 Video: Watch a video about V1 rockets.
Copyright 2007 by Dan Oja