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Date: August 19, 1942 |
Action: Dieppe Raid |
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Unit: 1st Ranger Battalion, No. 4 Commando |
Location: Dieppe, France |
"COMMANDO"
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wounded were helped slowly up the road. Our position was at a farmhouse gate
which was connected to a high hedgerow. The Boyes Antitank Rifle gunner took
a position on the left side of the road facing the demolished guns. We had
our back to the withdrawing Commandos. I heard footsteps on the other side
of the hedgerow. Logically I knew it had to be Germans. I took a position at
the gate and out came Corporal Koons. I ordered him up the road to catch up
wit the slowly withdrawing Commandos.
After several minutes, I ran over to the antitank rifle and picked up the front handle and we both ran to the first bend in the road. We were alone and the last men on the road. There were over a hundred dead all around us. As I looked around I was waiting for one of them to get up and start firing. We took up our second position and saw a truckload of German infantry come to the position we had just vacated. I told the gunner if they come past that point we fire. A man got out and went into the gate and returned to the truck. I said "Fire!" He hit the truck and it turned into a pile of dust. I stood up and fired eight rounds. We took off and I grabbed the front end of the rifle again and we dashed to the next position, which was the next bend in the road. He passed me on the left side and we both went down. Rifle fire zipping through the tree leaves. We reached the perimeter and the Commando gave the passwords, which I can I honestly say I had forgotten. - Alex Szima, 1st Ranger Battalion, one of two U.S. Rangers attached to No. 4 Commando |
Commando training in England
British Commando - Dieppe |
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Source: |
Beyond Valor: World War II's Ranger and Airborne Veterans Reveal the Heart of Combat |
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By: Patrick O'Donnell |
