As eagles screamed by Donald R Burgett

[AMMOTECHXT]

This is the experience of a 101st US Airborne Division paratrooper in 1943 - 44. He joined aged 18 and was still only 19 at the time of the Normandy invasion when he parachuted at night behind Utah beach near the base of the Cherbourg peninsula. Its content is very descriptive and I found it un-put-downable. First published in 1967 under the title "Currahee." It covers from when he first joined until he was reunited with the surviving members of his unit towards the end of June 1944. This was after he was reportedly killed in action, though he was just in time to stop the fateful telegram from being sent to his family.

 

[Millsman]

This is the experience of a 101st US Airborne Division paratrooper in 1943 - 44. He joined aged 18 and was still only 19 at the time of the Normandy invasion when he parachuted at night behind Utah beach near the base of the Cherbourg peninsula. Its content is very descriptive and I found it un-put-downable. First published in 1967 under the title "Currahee." It covers from when he first joined until he was reunited with the surviving members of his unit towards the end of June 1944. This was after he was reportedly killed in action, though he was just in time to stop the fateful telegram from being sent to his family.

I read 'Currahee' when I was about 14. It was the most realistic war book I had ever read and remains so to this day. It is a brilliant book. The descriptions of fighting in the Bocage are graphic and the first hand view is amazing. Please read this if you can.

Burgett died in 2017 and his name is on the Ravenoville Memorial as one of the liberators of the village.

Eternal Heroes Memorial Ravenoville

Honoring the paratroopers of the U.S. 101st Airborne and 82nd Airborne Divisions who fought to liberate the village of Ravenoville, Normandy, France on D-Day June 6th/7th 1944.

www.eternalheroesmemorial.org

By chance I was there this morning. It's just a few miles east of Sainte Mere Eglise. The memorial is in the front garden of a house and annual ceremonies are held there.