Black Combat Troops in Normandy

[Hawkeye]

I found this tonight while looking in the Eisenhower archives. I had never heard anything about black troops in combat at D Day.

www.eisenhower.archives.gov/dl/dday/7557.pdf

Caption:

A platoon of black troops surround a farm house as they prepare to eliminate a German sniper holding up an advance, on Omaha Beachhead, near Vierville Sur-Mer-France, June 10, 1944.

[Faabala]

They might have been from the barrage balloon unit that got sent in early. They would have been responsible for securing thier immediate area.

The following Stars and Stripes article by Allan Morrison tells of the Unit my father, George Davison, was with but does not list the Unit by name. The Unit was 320th AAA Barrage Balloon Battalion, VLA (Very Low Altitude).
"Balloon Umbrella Raised on D-Day Has Sheltered the Beachheads Since" by Allan Morrison (Stars and Stripes Staff Writer)
A U.S. BEACHHEAD, July 5---

During and since D-Day barrage balloons flown by a Negro barrage balloon battalion have provided a screen of rubber several miles long on the two main beachheads, assisting in the protection of troop landings and the unloading of supplies. There are two significant aspects of this unit's work. First, the VLA (very low altitude) balloons confounded sceptics; their part in keeping enemy raiders above effective strafing altitude. Second, the unit has the distinction of being the only Negro combat group included in the first assault forces to hit the coasts. The balloons were flown across the channel from hundreds of landing craft, three men to a balloon, and taken ashore under savage fire from shore batteries. Some of the men died alongside the infantryman they came in to protect, and their balloons drifted off. But the majority struggled to shore with their balloons and light winches and set up for operation in foxholes on the beach. The balloons still fly as protective umbrellas, some from the sites taken under 88 fire, others snugly established in former German pillboxes built into the cliffs and man their balloons around the clock. The balloons are armed with a lethal device attached to the cable. Should an enemy pilot try to fly through the barrage and strike a cable, the device releases a "flying mine" which explodes against the plane. The unit's first kill came recently when a JU88 ran afoul of the cable supporting the balloon of commanded by Cpl. George Alston, of Norfolk, Va. Pride of the battalion is a group of medics who covered themselves with glory on D-Day by landing in the face of heavy fire to set up a first aid station on that beach.
The men praised by the unit's CO, Lt. Col. Leon Reed, of Middleboro, Ky., are:
Capt. Robert E. Devitt, Chicago, Ill.;
S/Sgt Alfred Bell, Memphis Tenn.;
Cpl. Waverly B. Woodson Jr., Philadelphia;
Cpl. Eugene Worthy, Memphis, Tenn.;
Pfc. Warren W. Capers, Kenbridge, Va.

All have been recommended for decorations."

[cameronj]

I'm noticing the officer present(note the bar on back of helmet) is white. Seems that was always the way, sad.

[Hawkeye]

I noticed that he looks light skinned but I think he's black also. Look a his complexion compaired to the soldier behind him, he looks black to me, it's his hands that look white.

[S/Sgt.Noble30thID]

I agree, all present are African Americans. The barrage ballon guys are unsung heros on D Day. You see their ballons in every movie and picture that shows any US invasion beach, but their story is mostly untold.

Charlie

[Elijah2]

Man, I thought everyone had seen that photo. It's in the National Archives online collection as well.

Now, if you want to read an account from Cpl. Waverly Woodson, Jr., who was a member of the 320th AAA BBB and set up a first aid station on the beach with the first wave, then read his three page entry in "We Were There: Voices of African-American Veterans, from World War II to the War in Iraq," by Yvonne Latty (Amistad Books, 2005).

[cameronj]

Oct 18, 2008 19:41:50 GMT -5 Elijah2 said:

Man, I thought everyone had seen that photo. It's in the National Archives online collection as well.

Now, if you want to read an account from Cpl. Waverly Woodson, Jr., who was a member of the 320th AAA BBB and set up a first aid station on the beach with the first wave, then read his three page entry in "We Were There: Voices of African-American Veterans, from World War II to the War in Iraq," by Yvonne Latty (Amistad Books, 2005).

I just might look into that, sounds like it could fare a very interesting read!

[SrBenelli]

Pic is also in "Spearheading D-Day". I'll see what the caption reads when I get home....


OK Page 255 in "Spearheading D-Day". The ID of those soldiers isn't "confirmed", but the pic is reported to be taken in the Vierville area. They surmise that the troops could be members of the 3565th Ord. Medium Maitenance Co. that was used to clear the area.