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Some of the men are armed with M1s, note Harry Gerheim has his cleaning rod
still in the barrel,
[l-r] Standing: Earl Cornwall, Henry P. Shillinger,
(Henry or John?) Smith, Burton
Shepherd, Lawrence Dunn, Frank Dasch,
Kneeling: Edward E. DuPont, James B. Bills in photo taken just
prior to D-Day jump. Note C-47 in background and dim image of men
working in truck at left.
(courtesy Della (Cornwall) Pederson)
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RIGGERS PREPARE FOR D-DAY
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The photo at left was first seen in "The Barger Album" but without any indication of who the men in the picture were. Only Roy Barger (back row, far left) was recognized based on his appearance in other photos within his extensive album coverage.
The photo was encountered a second time on page 134 of "The 508th Connection", by Zig Boroughs. This copy had been provided to Zig by Carl Porter who also appears in the photo. More importantly, Mr. Porter listed the names and fates of all the men as detailed below.
Carl has also advised the photo was made at Camp Ashwell, where the
riggers were billeted, and that some of their barracks appear in the
background.. The photo was taken on D- Minus One at the airfield
they departed from. | Front Row: (L-R)
T/Sgt
Henry P. "Hank" Schillinger - POW
James W. (Jimmy) Hall, Jr.-
KIA
Carl H. Porter - POW
Thomas G.
"Tommy" Cross
- KIA
Earl R. Cornwall
Frank R. Dasch - POW Absent from picture.
Patrick
C. Farrell - MIA [Note: no mention of Farrell is
listed yet as a Purple Heart recipient or as a POW.)
(Legend: POW - Prisoner of War; MIA - Missing in Action; KIA-Killed in Action) | Back Row (L-R)
Warrant Officer Roy
W. Barger - POW
T/Sgt John D. Kersh - POW
Cecil Neal -
POW
Truman K. Detwiler - POW
Albert
T. Pirtle
Edward E. "Pony" DuPont - MIA [received
Purple Heart on 12 June 1944)
Elmer
E. Martell - POW
Donald W. Hanson
Howard B. (Randy) Ranabauer
- KIA, Jun 15, 44
Lawrence J. (Larry) Snovak
- KIA
Harry Gerheim
Robert Watts - POW
MSgt Lindale Keating - POW |
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