American Valor Quarterly Issue 12 - Spring 2015 | Page 16

National Archives

tracer planes overhead. You could see
them in the sunlight as the sun shone
over the horizon. You could see the
planes going North and South. Even
though I didn’t know exactly where
I was, I knew I had to go northwest,
so I started in that direction. I picked
up the first man about
five minutes into that
walk. I picked up five
more men and they all
thought that I knew
where I was going. We
were all scared, so I had
a quick meeting with
them and said, “Men,
you know I have no
idea where I am so let’s
stop in one of these
farmhouses.” I figured
a farmer could tell me
where we were because
farmers can read maps.
But it was a risk because
we were also told that
any of these farmhouses
could be a hideout for
German officers, which
would turn our escape
into a kill box. But I
thought we’d have to
take a chance. I asked
the others what they
thought and they said,
“Sergeant, we’ll do
whatever you want.”

Next I said, “Brevands?” He said,
“Oui.” I knew we were pretty close.
Next I said, “Carentan?” He started
thumping on the floor, and said, “Oui,
oui.” I thought, “Oh my God, we’ve
got to get the hell out of here right
away. I knew wher