Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans
7:38 | Lewis Fern recounts his responsibilities as jump master when parachuting into Sicily amongst intense gunfire. They include coordinating with the crew chief, giving instructions to Pilot Brown, preparing his men for the imminent jump, instructing the Assistant Division Commander to jump with them, and regrouping with his men once on the ground.
Keywords : parachuting paratrooper Sicily friendly fire German bombing raid
Lewis Fern recounts the death of Colonel Gorman during a deadly encounter with a Tiger Tank in Italy.
Lewis Fern shares his experience during the landing at Anzio in which German Messerschmitts strafed all along the beach at nearly defenseless American LCI's.
Lewis Fern recounts a rainy night in Anzio as Major Blitch's S3. When calling their outpost into a dry house, the unarmed men are completely surprised when three armed German soldiers walk into the house after them.
Prior to his experience in Venafro, Italy, Lewis Fern recalls his patrol's activity in the town of Coli, Italy. A group of six German soldiers came into town, and Sergeant Hayjack, who was fluent in German, led the men on an assignment to take one of the German soldiers prisoner.
Lewis Fern witnesses the gruesome aftermath of an artillery strike in Anzio.
Lewis Fern recalls a Flakwagen attack outside Caserta, Italy in which Sergeant Sloughbaugh was killed.
A collection of pictures from parachute school.
