I've posted before about my MiMi's cousin, my first cousin twice removed?, who was a waist and tail gunner on a B-24 in WWII. His story is amazing, and what's truly amazing is the patriotism shown by the French in not only Normandy, but the town where his plane was shot down. They have an annual parade just for that occasion. In short, Bob Sweatt was on a B-24 crew, plane appropriately named "Trouble". 17 or 18 missions, from Benghazi, to Italy to Portugal, and final flight over German occupied France where they were shot down by German ace pilot Hauptmann Egon Mayer, Bob Sweatt was the sole survivor and the French people in the town of Bouville, France took him in, at their own risk, and ran him through the French Underground to safety, eventually rescued by the SBS on a beach.

The below is an e-mail my Dad sent me from one of the descendants of the family that saved Bob Sweatt, for the D Day anniversary. They put flowers on the 4 graves of the Trouble crew that are buried there every year (the rest of the crew is buried at Arlington). Bob Sweatt is 97 and well.

Something positive today!



Dear all,

Hope all of you are well.

I am back from Normandy where, despite the covid-19, I was able to place flowers on the 4 graves.
This was complicated at the administrative level, but I had the authorization at the last moment, thanks to a secretary of very great kindness, who gave me an appointment, without going through the database. I had a last minute pass.

As you will see in the photos, before placing the flowers, I also wanted to be on Omaha at the exact time of the Landing, at 6:30 am, this June 6.

With a colleague from the college, we met the only American Veteran who was there this year (Charles Norman SHAY). He landed here on Omaha Beach (with the 1st wave) at the age of 20 as a medic in the Big Red One. He landed without a weapon.
He had the opportunity to be present, because he has lived in Normandy for two years. With the airports closed, American veterans were unable to come this year for June 6.

Time to make an interesting video that will arrive later, here are the first photos for now. It is a beautiful bouquet of roses that has been placed on each of the graves.

Without a guide, it was forbidden to go to the graves to meditate. Friday morning, by phone, I managed to get an appointment for the next day. A very kind female guide accompanied us to lay the flowers.

With All my RESPECTS for U.S. Veterans.
(I will send these photos by Post Service for Bob.)

God bless them.

Arnaud Theron

Outstanding. Thanks for sharing that story.

Awesome story.

Amazing bravery from that generation. Never pass up an opportunity to thank them because some day they'll all be gone.

God bless those who took those beaches

And a snappy Salute~~~~

Thank you for honoring those brave soldiers. . . . . . Charles Norman Shay landing on that beach-head without a weapon, AND he lived to tell about it.
I can only imagine the Survivor syndrome he has lived with all these years.
And then to move to Normandy at the age of 90,
I can only imagine that he wants to pass with his mates.
I surely would want to if I was in that position.



God Bless . . . . .

Great story. Thanks.

I can watch those WWII shows all day...

I've been watching "Hell Below" WW II Submarines German and American. The Germans were on the East coast in 1942. It was on the Smithsonian I recorded months ago but those are interesting to a Gator Navy Sailor. There's a Commander Sam Dealey, SS-257 HARDER, from Dallas, TX who was the nephew of the man GB Dealey for which the Plaza is named. Putting "Destination Tokyo" on my watchlist.

WOW

If that story doesn't move you, you aren't American. Sadly, so many today aren't, I believe. The vile hatred in the air and even within our government disgusts me.

My great uncle was in Army Intelligence (yes, I know the jokes) overseas during the war. He actually went ashore on Japan BEFORE we began conventional bombing or dropped the nukes. His team was dropped off offshore from a deserted beach area. The inflatable returned to the sub to leave no trace of the team's arrival I believe. I forget now how long he was there; I should have recorded his conversations when he told those stories. They did recon in planning for an invasion if necessary, and were picked up days later. He also returned as part of the Occupation Force.

Earlier this year I read a book about a gunner's survival from a bomber shot down over occupied France. "Lost Airman" - I highly recommend it. My wife liked it also. Many in the French Resistance gave their lives to save those of airmen shot down over France, as detailed in this book.