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WORLD WAR II |
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| Colonel Crain was there for the Liberation of Paris Parade on 29 August, 1944. The above picture is of the 112th Regiment and the 110th Regiment. Just behind the Jeep, from left to right are Capt. Graham (E Co.), Photographer; Capt. Charles Crain (H Co.), 1st Lt. Kauffman (F Co.); and Capt. Pruden (2 Bn. Ex. Off.). | |
 In his story entitled "Liberation Parade in Paris" Crain writes:"Late in the afternoon of 27 August, 1944, we made a motor movement to Versailles, France. We were advised that there we were selected to parade through Paris to celebrate the "liberation." The 2nd Battalion was bivouacked on the palace grounds. It was a beautiful place. Neither the Nazi Army nor the U.S. Army Air Corps had disturbed this historical palace. Our soldiers immediately started to dig our slit trenches and foxholes. The palace caretakers became very agitated and screamed and threw up their hands in horror! We were digging in their beautiful gardens. However, we continued to dig and the caretakers were invited to a delicious hot dinner that night." Further on in this story he tells us: "The uniform for the parade was steel helmet with chinstraps fastened, combat pack, and raincoats (only if it rained). Rifles were slung with bayonets fixed and guns were loaded and locked. On 29 August the rain had stopped and we marched about 10 miles to the Arc de Triumphe. We assembled without a hitch. The march started at 1345 hours and we marched down the famed Champ's d'Elysees at 24 men abreast. French police could hardly control the cheering crowds. Every citizen of Paris must have been there! When we passed the reviewing stand we double timed for about 300 yards and turned off on adjacent streets. The 2nd Battalion, 112th, organized into the approach march, a battle formation, with point and flank guard out. This formation was almost impossible. The French girls were breaking into our ranks to hug and kiss our soldiers. Despite all this, we did maintain order and headed for the Le Bouerget Airport, a few miles north of Paris. As we approached the Airport, we began to receive mortar and small arms fire. The Battalion Commander sent a Company around the Airport to take care of this situation and about this time, a Command car with a full Colonel drove up. He told us that a squadron of P-47's would fly in at daybreak and he had orders to get the runways in order. As he was trying to determine the condition of the runways, he was killed by a German sniper. We all dug defensive positions for the night for it was evident that the area was was not secure as yet, and the P-47's certainly did not come in at daybreak. In the Charlotte Observer of May 7, 2002, there was an article about a Colonel Pat Little who was mortally wounded while leading a reconnaissance party to assess the damages at Le Bouerget Airport. The article stated that Colonel Little was killed on August 17, 1944 and I could not help but wonder if this date was incorrect and that in fact, the article was in reference to the Colonel I saw killed the evening of 29 August, 1944." |
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