Item Description
Original Item: One-of-a-kind. Staff Sergeant John E. Fisher ASN 35596295 participated in the D-Day landings at Normandy on June 6th, 1944 as a member of the Anti-Tank Company, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. Two photographs of him appear in the wonderful book Seven Months to D-Day: An American Regiment in Dorset by Robin Pearce on page 51 (copies of the photos are included). Below is an excerpt from the book about the Anti-Tank company and their D-Day Landing.
The Anti-Tank Company of the 16th Infantry Regiment was based in Beaminster. Roger L. Julson from Madison, Wisconsin, was in the platoon which was billeted in the Red Lion Hotel in Beaminster's Square. He was drafted in January 1943 and inducted into the army at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. After a short basic training at Camp Hood in Texas, he was taken to Camp Patrick Henry near the embarkation port of Newport News in Virginia. He sailed on the SS America with 8000 men to Casablanca where he was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division. Shortly afterwards he was taken to Sicily on an LST and assigned to the Anti-Tank Company.
He, along with other new infantrymen, was kept 'on alert in a staging area' away from the fighting. They slept in 'pup' tents, which were small two-man bivouacs. About this time the Division confiscated a truckload of twelve bass accordions and Roger was given one. He kept it with him throughout his stay in Beaminster and France until he got a better one in Germany. He was able to take it around with him because his company moved about in half-tracks. In November 1943 he set sail again from Sicily to England and was taken to Beaminster. 'Our platoon stayed on the second floor of a hotel — The Red Lion — in a dance hall converted to barracks. Other platoons were in similar buildings converted to barracks in the same village.'
They fired their anti-tank guns occasionally on army ranges away from Beaminster. Every day and some nights they were training or on exercises. If they used their half-tracks six or eight of them would sit in the back and the sergeant and driver in the front. They towed a 57 mm gun with a long barrel which required at least six men to operate it.
As is often the case, it is the trivial things that remain in the memory. Roger Julson, for instance, remembers particularly the toilet facilities on the landing craft which took them and their equipment across the Channel. 'This landing craft was open topped with about three or four foot high side rails. To go to the bathroom you climbed to the outside of the rail where there was a two foot wide ledge, hung on for dear life with one hand, did your duty in a pail with a rope attached to the handle and then emptied it into the ocean and caught a little water in the pail for the next guy.'
The Anti-Tank Company went ashore at about 133o hours. The landing craft lowered its ramp and the men went ashore in the half-tracks, Because of congestion on the beach they soon had to stop behind the Jeeps and trucks. `German artillery and mortar fire was coming toward us frequently. We dug some trenches next to our half-tracks for some protection.' Julson's Company had two killed and fourteen wounded. He himself 'got one piece of shrapnel that tore a hole in my legging, but just barely marred my skin.' Eventually, they were pushing inland after 'a very scary and hectic day — June 6, 1944.'
John E. Fisher, 35596295, Staff Sergeant (then Corporal) was awarded the Bronze Star Medal "For Heroic achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy in the European Theater of Operation from 6 June 1944 to 10 October 1944. Residence at enlistment: Mount Vernon, Ohio." Both the original Bronze Star Medal and copy of citation are included in this set.
Including in this fantastic well researched Big Red One D-Day grouping with excellent provenance are the following items:
- Original WWII issue Ike Jacket in size 36R in excellent condition with 1st Infantry Division "Big Red One" patch on the right shoulder and 45th Infantry Division on right shoulder (he came home with the 45th). Bronze Star Medal, Sterling Silver WWII Combat Infantryman Badge CIB, Artillery lapel pins and Medal ribbons that include: Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct, European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with an Invasion Arrowhead (D-Day) and 2 Campaign Stars, Presidential Unit Citation, Ruptured Duck Patch, French Croix De Guerre Fourragère shoulder cord, Chevrons, four overseas service bars on the left sleeve indicating 2+ years in overseas service. The inside of the jacket is clearly ink marked F6295 (which stands for Fisher, Army Serial Number 35596295).
- Two pairs of standard army issue wool trousers.
- Research binder with copies of Fisher's wartime documents such as his Bronze Star Citation, pages from Seven Months to D-Day: An American Regiment which include group photos of Fisher and other members of the 16th Infantry Regiment Anti-Tank Company, notes from the collector that sourced this material from Fischer's wife Violet and much more.
All in all a fantastic named D-Day grouping from the Big Red One!
Seven Months to D-Day: An American Regiment in Dorset by Robin Pearce is an interesting and informative local history about the 16th Infantry Regiment of the 1st US Infantry Division in Dorset during World War II. There are plenty of personal recollections from the American soldiers that were part of the Division at that time and pictures of the regiment in Dorset. This is great for anybody with an interest in the Big Red One.
The Anti-Tank Company of the 16th Infantry Regiment was based in Beaminster. Roger L. Julson from Madison, Wisconsin, was in the platoon which was billeted in the Red Lion Hotel in Beaminster's Square. He was drafted in January 1943 and inducted into the army at Fort Sheridan, Illinois. After a short basic training at Camp Hood in Texas, he was taken to Camp Patrick Henry near the embarkation port of Newport News in Virginia. He sailed on the SS America with 8000 men to Casablanca where he was assigned to the 1st Infantry Division. Shortly afterwards he was taken to Sicily on an LST and assigned to the Anti-Tank Company.
He, along with other new infantrymen, was kept 'on alert in a staging area' away from the fighting. They slept in 'pup' tents, which were small two-man bivouacs. About this time the Division confiscated a truckload of twelve bass accordions and Roger was given one. He kept it with him throughout his stay in Beaminster and France until he got a better one in Germany. He was able to take it around with him because his company moved about in half-tracks. In November 1943 he set sail again from Sicily to England and was taken to Beaminster. 'Our platoon stayed on the second floor of a hotel — The Red Lion — in a dance hall converted to barracks. Other platoons were in similar buildings converted to barracks in the same village.'
They fired their anti-tank guns occasionally on army ranges away from Beaminster. Every day and some nights they were training or on exercises. If they used their half-tracks six or eight of them would sit in the back and the sergeant and driver in the front. They towed a 57 mm gun with a long barrel which required at least six men to operate it.
As is often the case, it is the trivial things that remain in the memory. Roger Julson, for instance, remembers particularly the toilet facilities on the landing craft which took them and their equipment across the Channel. 'This landing craft was open topped with about three or four foot high side rails. To go to the bathroom you climbed to the outside of the rail where there was a two foot wide ledge, hung on for dear life with one hand, did your duty in a pail with a rope attached to the handle and then emptied it into the ocean and caught a little water in the pail for the next guy.'
The Anti-Tank Company went ashore at about 133o hours. The landing craft lowered its ramp and the men went ashore in the half-tracks, Because of congestion on the beach they soon had to stop behind the Jeeps and trucks. `German artillery and mortar fire was coming toward us frequently. We dug some trenches next to our half-tracks for some protection.' Julson's Company had two killed and fourteen wounded. He himself 'got one piece of shrapnel that tore a hole in my legging, but just barely marred my skin.' Eventually, they were pushing inland after 'a very scary and hectic day — June 6, 1944.'
John E. Fisher, 35596295, Staff Sergeant (then Corporal) was awarded the Bronze Star Medal "For Heroic achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy in the European Theater of Operation from 6 June 1944 to 10 October 1944. Residence at enlistment: Mount Vernon, Ohio." Both the original Bronze Star Medal and copy of citation are included in this set.
Including in this fantastic well researched Big Red One D-Day grouping with excellent provenance are the following items:
- Original WWII issue Ike Jacket in size 36R in excellent condition with 1st Infantry Division "Big Red One" patch on the right shoulder and 45th Infantry Division on right shoulder (he came home with the 45th). Bronze Star Medal, Sterling Silver WWII Combat Infantryman Badge CIB, Artillery lapel pins and Medal ribbons that include: Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct, European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with an Invasion Arrowhead (D-Day) and 2 Campaign Stars, Presidential Unit Citation, Ruptured Duck Patch, French Croix De Guerre Fourragère shoulder cord, Chevrons, four overseas service bars on the left sleeve indicating 2+ years in overseas service. The inside of the jacket is clearly ink marked F6295 (which stands for Fisher, Army Serial Number 35596295).
- Two pairs of standard army issue wool trousers.
- Research binder with copies of Fisher's wartime documents such as his Bronze Star Citation, pages from Seven Months to D-Day: An American Regiment which include group photos of Fisher and other members of the 16th Infantry Regiment Anti-Tank Company, notes from the collector that sourced this material from Fischer's wife Violet and much more.
All in all a fantastic named D-Day grouping from the Big Red One!
Seven Months to D-Day: An American Regiment in Dorset by Robin Pearce is an interesting and informative local history about the 16th Infantry Regiment of the 1st US Infantry Division in Dorset during World War II. There are plenty of personal recollections from the American soldiers that were part of the Division at that time and pictures of the regiment in Dorset. This is great for anybody with an interest in the Big Red One.
- This product is available for international shipping.
- Not eligible for payment with Paypal or Amazon
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