|
| |
|
SGT JOSEPH J. HARROLD |
|
 Diary
of Local Paratrooper,
Killed in Action, Sent Home |
(courtesy of Jim Fraley)
Grave markers for Joseph
J. Harrold in Section 95, Lot 37, Location E of the Green Lawn Cemetery,
Columbus (Franklin county), Ohio.
Joseph enlisted at Fort
Thomas (Newport), KY on 6 November 1942. Pvt Harrold volunteered
for parachutist duty and was assigned to Company F, 508th PIR.
He was promoted to
Corporal on 26 January 1944 and appointed to the grade of Sergeant on 10
April 1944.
Sgt Harrold jumped into
Normandy on D-Day, 6 June 1944. He was killed in action on 7 July
1944 and was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Combat
Infantryman Badge.
|
A Columbus mother read the story of her son's last fight in
the hedgerows of Normandy, this week in a diary left by the paratrooper,
describing his D-Day jump, and the fighting that preceded his death in
action, last July 4.
She win Mrs. Flavia Haas,
49 W. Tulane Rd, mother of Sgt. Joseph J. Harrold, 23. who was a member
of the 82nd Airborne Regiment that fought for 33 days without relief.
starting with the invasion of France.
The diary was sent to her, with other personal effects, by one of Sgt.
Harrold's buddies who fought with him and who was present at his death.
It’s a small, brown, water-stained, battered diary, but its five days'
record packs more action than normal men see in a lifetime.
Sgt. Harrold's June 6 entry was: “Flying in heavy machine gun fire. We
bailed out over France. The air all around us was lit up like 4th of
July at Coney Island. We gathered most of our stick (eight men, a
jumping team) together and took off for the town, about 4:30 a. m. We
were fired on by enemy machine guns at about 8:30 a. m. and became
disorganized, there-fore having to fight a retreating battle until about
3 p. m., when we set up a defense among friendly troops.
“June 7—What a hell of a day. Had the |
hell shot out of us. Held the flanks on the left so the
enemy could not close in and our ... Division could come through. We had
to retreat from .88 fire (what hellish stuff) and tanks moved down to
the town of Chef du Pont to hold town. .
“June 8- Stayed at Chef du Pont and cleaned out the town.
At night we tried twice to get supplies through to Col. . . . but
were cut off both times. Had sniper fire on us all day. "The diary goes
on, telling of the terrific fighting as the paratroopers carried out
their different missions. It ends on June 11 on a quiet note: “Went to
church. Rested and ate K rations.” Presumably the action was so fast in
succeeding days that Sgt. Harrold was unable to record his experiences.
Mrs. Hass has received a letter from Brig. Gen. James M. Gavin,
commander of Sgt. Harrold's regiment, commiserating her on her loss and
praising the young soldier, adding that the sergeant has been
recommended for the posthumous award of a silver star medal. She also
received a letter from Sgt. Harrold's colonel, with the officer writing
virtually the same message as the general.
Sgt. Harrold, a graduate of West High School, attended Ohio State
University before entering the Army In November. |
|
 |
|
