Home
What's New
Search Engine
Archives
Odyssey
Photo Gallery
Unit History
Unit Honors
TAPS
Voices Of Past
F&F Association
How To Submit

Back Up Next

OPERATIONS IN THE ARDENNES

Traveling Stylish Though Not In Style
Ralph Smith (sporting sunglasses) squats center rear.  He is flanked by Herb Beattie (on left) and Neal Beaver. (right) who seem to have their legs dangling from the box car's doorway.  The man at far left may be Biagio "Ben" Bennardi .  The man standing at far right and drinking from a canteen cup is unidentified..

'Werbomont Express'
imagine riding while standing in trucks like these with inadequate clothing in mid-December 1944!
 

 

A moment Of Peace
Chaplain (Captain) Joseph P. Kenny celebrates Mass on January 6, 1945 for men of the regiment during a lull in the combat in the Battle of The Bulge

In January 1945, the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment had been assigned a mission to prevent the demolition of the Schwammanauel hydro-electric dam on the Roer River in Germany. The regimental 3rd Battalion was to conduct the raid. H Company was to be the lead company. And 2nd platoon was assigned to be a diversion by running out of the willow trees and across the 200 yard wide and one foot deep river just below the dam.

My Dad was the Platoon leader for that diversion. It was considered a suicide mission. The photo at top left was taken on a railway car in Belgium heading toward the dam which is near Schmidt, Germany. This type of rail car was called a 40 and 8 because it could haul 40 hommes et 8 cheval ... 40 men and 8 horses.
  

Before the raid was to take place, it was fortunately cancelled as the 78th Division had captured the dam. Otherwise, I probably would not be writing this today. The men in this photo had survived the Normandy night drop, the ill-fated attack on the "Bridge Too Far" in Nijmegen, Holland and the frozen inferno of the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes Forest of Belgium. My dad is the one smiling with the sunglasses ...to his left front is Neal Beaver and to his right front is Herb Beattie. When I learn the identity of the other men in the photo I will post them. They should never be forgotten!
[Commentary by Ralph Smith's son] 

Copyright and all other rights reserved by the Family and Friends of The 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment Association or by those who are otherwise cited,
For problems or questions regarding this web site, please contact
Jumpmaster.