Letter 12

Here is the  history of the 101  … it began on the eve of the great Normandy invasion June 6   1944 …  at midnight before…  the 101 and  the 87th jumped behind enemy lines… 9 my ex step father Russ  Jensen jumped with  the 87th that night  …  he died  with  a germen bullet  still in him) … anyway .. the  paratroops were  to capture  certain  communication centers and  crossroads and bridges …but  they were  dropped miles from  their target.. some were dropped    in swamps and they  drowned .. they were all carrying over  hundred pounds of equipment … but  the  few  that made  it  alive  fought  like  crazy … they captured  at  mere eglese .. etc .. when  the regular army  fought their way off the beach the 101  had  been  fighting  since  yesterday !!!
And they  thought  their  fighting was over … six  months   later  their  country would call  on them again … they were fat  and drunk  in Paris… but our army  was in disaster …  the germans were  grinding  us up in a surprise attack … our goofy infantry was fleeing and  surrendering by the thousands …  they were all  rookies .. they never saw  such  an impressive  and over powering army … we had  to get  the boys that  are not intimidated  by  hitler … the 101st !!! . but think of this …  you,re a young boy ands the  grabbed you  from a whorehouse and suddenly  you,re  in  a airplane .. it,s bittery cold… it,s loud …  you get instructions … everybody all Americans are gone … the germans  are rolling ..  a town  called Bastogne … what country  ?   …  Belgium.. you  must  hold Bastogne .. can you  imagine those  boys  that nite …  iowa boys …  polish boys …  every kind  of boy  you can  imagine .. they  pull their  straps  tight …  double check their rifles .. and JUMP !!...  they hit the ground  fighting  and stopped eleven  german divisions .. of course  most of them  got killed  .  but they said  ‘ f…. you “ when they were freezing  and   out of ammo …  but the germans  wouldn’t cal their bluff .. they  had   enough  of the  101 … and when  the 4th  armored  broke through  to  relieve them  they  were surprised to find  so few  remaining .. they  had been  fighting  tank to  tank for 3 days to get there ..  they knew what  a large force  the germans had …  but when they got to Bastogne  they found  just  a handful of 101st  INFANTRY   holding … holding … their orders were hold Bastogne at all cost …  those  fuckers held  it …  but  it was  a very high  cost ..  so you see  if you get  in  the 101st  airborne don,t  even  think  about retreat or  surrender . when you wear that “screaming eagle” patch .. it is  with  pride ..  but I Can  tell you about many  other units  .. but I think the main driving force  for all  heroes is not to disappoint my comrads  .. or  the heroes that are dead are that came before me ..  the men that jumped and died  that night  … the men that were completely surrounded and completely  fucked … the men that said “ f … you “