A Sky Train, March 1945

[floydragsdale]

424th Regiment, Thursday Morning, 22 March 1945, San Quenten, France.

The day was a mild one and somewhat overcast and I was just leaving the Billet area of G Company.

Suddenly the drone of Aircraft engines filled the heavens above. Within minutes, from horizon to horizon the sky was filled with military aircraft; C47’s (twin engine transport planes).

As I observed this spectacle in the heavens the sight changed to more C47’s pulling gliders.

This was a sky-train, going to Germany, loaded with paratroopers. Their mission was to establish a foot-hold on the other side of the Rhine River.

Of course, little did I realize at that time where they were going and that the war would end in less than two months.

Also, within that time frame the president of the United States would die and the evil one who was responsible (Hitler) for instigating WWII ended his life.

Much history was made in this short time frame of less than two months..

Floyd 424th Regiment







































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[connie]

Floyd,

Thanks for another window into the way our history unfolded for you! This is interesting stuff...

Connie

[floydragsdale]

Conni:

In five months following the Sky Train spectacle that this veteran witnessed, the following events occurred: The President of the United States died, WWII in Europe ended, the new President of the U.S. had to make a serious decision – a choice that gave birth to the atomic age and also brought the War in the Pacific Theater of Operations to a conclusion. Just months after these events took place, political differences among nations gave birth to the Cold War.

As this world spins around on its’ axis a majority of the masses who dwell here are led around by the nose via a certain few who know how to keep the majority in s state of constant turmoil.

Floyd
424th Regiment

[floydragsdale]

It was not my intentions to get any ones intestines stirred up by my “end of the war observations.” Yet, with the termination of WWII what has changed except the circumstances and many of the Governments in involved with a mixture of complicated blunders.

Maybe it’s a good thing the Good Lord made everybody different, otherwise wouldn’t this World be a boring place to dwell in?

Here’s my apologies to those that I may have offended.

Floyd
424th Regiment

[connie]

Hi, Floyd,

Thanks for your sensitivity. I think you are pretty careful not to make present day political comments. Your observations on your experiences in 1945/ 45 are always interesting and insightful.

I think you may have told more about your memories of Roosevelt's death before but as my mind goes repetition helps. I'm sure you remember where you were and what you were doing when work came of President Roosevelt's death. Regardless of anyone's political views at the time, losing a president while a war was in progress must have been an unsettling blow...

Connie

[floydragsdale]

Good evening Connie:

G Company and the 2nd Battalion was in the Brittany Peninsula in France, on a road, hiking in a column of two’s when a U.S, Army jeep passed by waving a Stars & Stripes newspaper with the headline, President Roosevelt Dead!

The reaction of the troops was mixed, some were grief-stricken, some said so what and still others were silent.

The now deceased President and funeral preparations made headlines until the event became history, which was about a week later.

The new President, Harry S. Truman, was faced with some very difficult decisions to make, such as using the atomic bomb to hasten the end of the conflict in the Pacific Theater of War.

It didn’t take very long for our new President to earn the respect of the American Troops overseas.

Floyd
424th Regiment

[connie]

Floyd,

You give a clear image of what you were doing and how you received word of the President's death... and the feelings at the time and in the weeks to follow. Thanks. It's refreshing to see history through eyes that were there instead of newspaper headlines.

Speaking of clear images. Your description of the Sky Train of March 22, 1945 in your first post is so clear I can see the day as well as the spectacle overhead.

I'm heading now to google "sky train" and March 22.

Connie

[floydragsdale]

Good Morning Connie:

Thank you for your kind remarkes.

When the 2nd Atomic Bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan I was in a place the G.i.’s called Tent City, just outside of Rheims, France and was within several days of being shipped directly to the Pacific Theater of War.

With the surrender of Japan, about the middle of August, everything changed, for the better, of course. Until the Army had new plans for all the Soldiers in Europe, furloughs and three day passes were issued to just about anybody who wanted one.

That is about the time that I was declared essential and would remain in France and Germany for another eight months.

The French Government allowed an American Soldier to ride a train anywhere in France at no charge. Consequently, I was able to see much of France, Switzerland and Germany in the following eight months as little cost to me.

Being declared essential had its’ advantages, although at that time this G.I. didn’t see it that way.

Floyd

[connie]

Floyd,

I hadn't realized the bit about the free train rides for soldiers in the post-VE Day era... That would have been a nice perk-- even though going home was the perk you really wanted.

Connie