Subhead
With a special remembrance of Corporal Marvin Hubert Allen from Waxahachie and his participation in the “Alamo of Normandy”
Body
Marvin Hubert Allen, the son of Mr. and Mrs. C.B. Allen, was born Nov. 10, 1922 in Boyce, Texas, but his family moved to Waxahachie after the 9th grade, where he played football for the Waxahachie Indians.
During World War II, Hubert (as he was called) served with the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) of the 82nd Airborne Division, and parachuted into Normandy after 2 a.m. on June 6, 1944.
The 507th had the worst mis-drop of any airborne unit on D-Day, and Hubert found himself with the rest of his regiment scattered in the marshes south of Carentan, France some 18 miles northwest of his planned drop zone. In the darkness, he was able to link up with another group of wandering paratroopers, and seeing a steeple in the distance at first light, moved toward the town, which was identified as Graignes (GREN-yah).
Graignes happened to be the strategic junction of the few roads that ran through the marshes, and was the route the Germans would have to use to reach Carentan to counterattack the American amphibious landings at Utah beach.
By June 9, with the fervent support of the town’s inhabitants supplying food and shelter, 182 paratroopers from mixed units were dug in to defend the town, with strategically placed mortars and machine guns, and an observation post in the town’s Catholic church steeple.
On June 10, the 2,000 strong 17th Waffen-SS Panzergrenadier Division Götz von Berlichingen armored division attacked.
In what is now called the “Alamo of Normandy,” the vastly outnumbered paratroopers held the town for two days, using the narrow roads and limited dry ground to their advantage.
The wounded were collected by the villagers and deposited inside the church, with the two village priests and their two aged female housekeepers assisting the 507th battalion surgeon and two medics in treating the casualties.
Only after completely running out of ammunition the evening of June 11 were the defenders ordered to fall back to Carentan or Sainte-Mère-Église.
After retaking Graignes, the commanding general of the 17th SS, embarrased by suffering a near-defeat from a force of fewer than 200 – with more than 500 killed and 700 wounded of his attacking force – had the battalion surgeon, the two medics and 14 wounded paratroopers who had surrendered inside the church split into two groups, marched to the edge of town and executed – soldiers bayoneted the first group and dumped their bodies in a pond, then forced the second group to dig their own burial pit before they were shot.
Then the German troops retaliated against the civilians who aided the Americans, executing 44 townspeople, including the two Catholic priests and their aged housekeepers – and burned Graignes to the ground.
Because of the 82nd’s stand at Graignes, the German armor did not reach Carentan before it was secured by the 101st Airborne.
Of the 182 defenders, 150 paratroopers made it back to the U.S. lines.
Corporal Marvin Hubert Allen was not one of them.
He now rests in honor in his family’s plot at the Hillcrest Burial Park just west of Waxahachie.
And what of the German 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division and the attrocities it committed? History and battlefield retribution found them on July 14, 1944 near the French city of St. Lo. It was there that Allied air forces used Napalm tactically for the first time in combat. The target of that attack was not accidental. It was carefully chosen. It was the 17th SS Panzergrenadier Division.
SERVICE ABBREVIATIONS
USA – United States Army
USN – United States Navy
USMC – United States Marine Corps
AAF – Army Air Force
RAF – Royal Air Force
MM – Merchant Marine
USAF – United States Air Force
WORLD WAR I
Alexander, James Ferris USA June 06, 1919
Baker, William E. Italy USA Jan. 15, 1917
Brock, Thomas M. Ennis USA Dec. 09, 1917
Cargill, Myrtis B. Italy USMC Apr. 24, 1918
Carpenter. John E. Ferris USA Oct. 31, 1918
Carter, W. E. Midlothian USA Oct. 08, 1918
Casteel, Benton Italy USA Sept. 13, 1918
Chism, Matt H. Ennis USA Nov. 01, 1918
Clemons, James Bristol USA Aug. 14, 1918
Comer, Donald F. Ennis USA Nov. 18, 1918
Compton, Lon D. Waxahachie USA Dec. 07, 1918
Cook, Holland B. Waxahachie USN Oct. 10, 1918
Craig, Charles V. Midlothian USA Oct. 07, 1918
Craig, David Earl Midlothian USN Oct. 01, 1918
Daily, Ercy C. Midlothian USA Oct. 13, 1918
Davis, Van T. Maypearl USA Oct. 26, 1918
Dickerson, Paul Waxahachie USN Sept. 30, 1918
Ellis, James Perry Waxahachie USA May 28, 1917
Evans, Jesse R. Griffith Switch USA Oct. 14, 1918
Feagins, Walter C. Palmer USA Oct. 21, 1918
Ferguson, James D. Waxahachie USA Dec. 20, 1917
Freeman, Will C. Waxahachie USA Mar. 04, 1919
Freemon, Everett Ennis USA Apr. 02, 1918
Green, Joseph I. Waxahachie USA Apr. 21, 1918
Hagood, Vincent C. Milford USA Mar. 18, 1918
Hall, James J. Palmer USA Oct. 30, 1918
Hart, Hardin Bristol USA Oct. 15, 1918
Herman, Fred B. Ferris USA Dec. 16, 1918
Hulshouser, Baxter Midlothian USA Oct. 09, 1918
Jackson, August Waxahachie USA July 23, 1918
Johnson, Andrew Ennis USA Apr. 08, 1918
Johnson, Leon W. Waxahachie USA Oct. 09, 1918
Johnson, Nells Ennis USA May 22, 1919
Jones, Aubrey C. Palmer USA Unknown
Kemble, Joe Roy Sterrett USA July 15, 1918
Kinsala, Thomas E. Ferris USA Nov. 16, 1917
Knight, Sidney A. Italy USA Oct. 05, 1918
Laffoon, Hillrey Red Oak USA Dec. 12, 1917
Landers, Harmon B. Ennis USA Oct. 16, 1918
Lovell, Belton W. Trumbull USA Unknown
Lummus, William Ennis USA June 13, 1918
Luther, John C. Rockett USA Oct. 15, 1918
Lyons, William G. Ennis USA Oct. 19, 1918
Marchbanks, JoVan Waxahachie USA Oct. 25, 1918
Matthews, Charles Waxahachie USA Sept. 25, 1918
Maxwell, James Waxahachie USA Feb. 27, 1919
Morrel, Daniel Milford USMC July 19, 1918
Myers, Grover Italy USN May 16, 1917
Neloms, Eddie Waxahachie USA Oct. 12, 1918
Poteete, Frank Midlothian USA 1918
Rhotenbury, Elda Waxahachie USN Jan. 15, 1918
Richardson, Henry Lone Cedar USA Feb. 12, 1918
Rose, Mafa Palmer USA Apr. 19, 1919
Sanders, David Waxahachie USA Apr. 15, 1917
Sanders, Hughes Ennis USA Oct. 02, 1918
Sewell, William D. Ferris USA Unknown
Shannon, James J. Ennis USA Dec. 28, 1917
Sherrod, William S. Bristol USA Sept. 12, 1918
Starr, Milton J. Palmer USA Sept. 23, 1918
Stout, Samuel D. Ennis USA Oct. 09, 1918
Trojacek, Frank J. Ennis USA Oct. 14, 1918
Voorhies, Clyde C. Midlothian USA June 06, 1918
Wade, Edward Palmer USA Mar. 07, 1918
Walker, John Jr. Ennis USA Oct. 13, 1918
Witherspoon, David Midlothian USA Oct. 14, 1918
Zhanel, John Ennis USA Nov. 02, 1918
WORLD WAR II
Abbott, Robert L. Waxahachie AAF Nov. 25, 1945
Adair, John Avalon AAF Aug. 29, 1944
Allen, Marvin Waxahachie USA June 11, 1944
Alsup, Robert Dean Midlothian USMC Feb. 24, 1945
Armstrong, Horace Waxahachie USA Mar. 05, 1944
Autrey, Hubert Palmer USA Nov. 17, 1944
Aycock, Charles M. Plum Grove USA Nov. 28, 1942
Backloupe, Joseph J. Ennis AAF Dec. 12, 1941
Bailey, Ezelle O. Lone Elm USN Apr. 24, 1945
Bailey, John Billy Ennis USN Oct. 11, 1943
Barker, Cecil Edgar Palmer USA Aug. 11, 1943
Barnett, Paul E. Ferris USA Feb. 20, 1945
Barr, Walter Lee Ennis USA Aug. 28, 1944
Barton, Emory D. Waxahachie AAF Oct. 31, 1942
Batte, Cecil E. Italy USA May 05, 1945
Baxter, Wilson R. Ferris USA Nov. 27, 1944
Bearden, Eurby Waxahachie USA Mar. 02, 1945
Beaty, Jack Waxahachie USA Feb. 28, 1945
Berrier, William I. Maypearl USA Oct. 24, 1942
Billman, Edwin L. Midlothian USA Dec. 17, 1944
Binder, David I. Waxahachie USA Feb. 28, 1945
Bradley, Bernice W. Milford USN Mar. 24, 1943
Bratcher, Eugene Jr. Maypearl USA Apr. 06, 1945
Bratcher, Oscar C. Waxahachie USA Dec. 15, 1943
Bush, Raymond M. Ennis USA Apr. 10, 1945
Callaway, Newton F. Waxahachie USA May 01, 1944
Clark, Raymond F. Ennis USA Nov. 30, 1944
Cleveland, Jessie F. Ennis USA June 06, 1944
Coleman, Burton H. Maypearl USA June 07, 1942
Collard, Edward Alma USA Nov. 13, 1943
Colleps, J. B Waxahachie AAF June 29, 1945
Collins, Colombus M. Palmer USA Feb. 28, 1944
Colston, H. B. Palmer USA Mar. 26, 1945
Cornwell, John G. Waxahachie AAF Aug. 30, 1945
Creed, Acklee Waxahachie USA Mar. 16, 1944
Crow, Joe Riley Ennis USMC Feb. 20, 1945
Crow, John W. Waxahachie USA Nov. 20, 1942
Crumpton, Robert D. Ennis AAF Sept. 28, 1944
Curby, Theodore R. Maypearl USN Apr. 24, 1945
Curts, Lester Ovilla USA Apr. 21, 1942
Davenport, Darrow Waxahachie USA 1941
Davis, Grady Lee Italy USMC June 20, 1945
Davis, Jack C. Ferris USA Mar. 09, 1944
Deeds, Alvin L. Midlothian AAF Dec. 05, 1944
Dewberry, Ercy Waxahachie AAF Aug. 09, 1944
Dillard, Patrick H. Midlothian AAF Apr. 05, 1945
Dillard, Samuel D. Midlothian AAF Jan. 22, 1944
Dixon, George Ellis Co. USA Mar. 13, 1943
Edwards, John C. Ennis USA Aug. 16, 1943
Farmer, Edward Ennis USA Sept. 25, 1944
Farrar, J. H. Palmer AAF Dec. 07, 1944
Fields, Earnest L. Midlothian USN Feb. 27, 1942
Fisher, Elton K. Ennis USA Jan. 02, 1945
Flippen, Roy Ferris USA Jan. 09, 1945
Fowler, Allen Tatum Ennis USA July 13, 1944
Frazier, Charles Ennis USA Jan. 13, 1945
Gallman, John M. Italy AAF Feb. 01, 1944
Garcia, Basilio Ellis Co. USA Apr. 16, 1944
Goddard, George Jr. Ennis AAF Feb. 22, 1944
Goodloe, Everette Red Oak USA May 03, 1945
Goodwin, James Ennis USMC Mar. 09, 1945
Goodwin, James Midlothian USMC Mar. 07, 1945
Graves, J. L. Waxahachie AAF Oct. 25, 1943
Green, Harry Otto Forreston AAF Mar. 07, 1943
Greene, Clinton H. Ennis AAF July 09, 1943
Ham, James T. Waxahachie USA Apr. 26, 1943
Hamilton, Maurice Ferris USA May 11, 1942
Hammond, Sylvan C. Waxahachie USA Oct. 24, 1944
Handley, Marion L. Waxahachie AAF Aug. 06, 1943
Harris, Tommie L. Waxahachie USA Feb. 24, 1945
Hejkal, Milton M. Ennis USA Oct. 24, 1944
Henderson, Joseph Jr. Ennis USA July 01, 1944
Houdek, Joe E. Ennis AAF Nov. 17, 1944
Hutchison, Jack W. Waxahachie USA Oct. 13, 1944
Jackson, F. Nesmith Waxahachie AAF May 04, 1943
Jarratt, J. Lewis Five Points USA Apr. 02, 1945
Jones, Bennie F. Forreston USN May 17, 1943
Jones, Carl Wesley Milford USN Feb. 04, 1945
Kirkpatrick, James G. Maypearl AAF Nov. 30, 1942
Lewis, Jack H. Ellis Co. USA Nov. 22, 1944
Loyd, J. L. Forreston USA Mar. 25, 1945
Love, Richard W. Midlothian AAF Nov. 24, 1943
Lummus, Jack Ennis USMC Mar. 08, 1945
Lusk, Luther R. Ennis USA Apr. 01, 1945
Lyons, James L. Ennis USA Feb. 11, 1945
Mach, Joe F. Ennis USA Sept. 02, 1944
Mack, Johnnie A. Ellis Co. USA Jan. 17, 1943
Manning, Cecil W. Waxahachie USA Aug. 01, 1943
Marchbanks, Alphonso Nash RAF Jan. 22, 1942
Mayfield, John W. Ennis USA Apr. 02, 1945
McBride, Ernest Italy USMC Oct., 1944
McCaskill, Cyrus M. Ennis USA Mar. 08, 1945
McNeil, Walter Ennis AAF Aug. 21, 1944
Melton, DeBerry Lone Elm USA Feb. 02, 1945
Menges, Leon Waxahachie AAF June 29, 1943
Miller, William T. Auburn USA Oct. 09, 1944
Mills, Maxie M. Palmer USA May 09, 1944
Mitchell, Marion R. Avalon USN Apr. 06, 1943
Moore, John T. Ennis USA Jan. 30, 1945
Morgan, G. P. Italy Navy Mar. 01, 1942
Morris, Henry E. Midlothian USA Mar. 31, 1945
Muirhead, Edgar Lone Elm AAF Mar. 16, 1944
Myers, Henry Jr. Waxahachie AAF July 26, 1942
Naughton, John B. Waxahachie USA Dec. 24, 1944
Navarro, Refugio G. Ennis USA Mar. 17, 1945
Nelson, Boyce M. Ellis Co. USA Oct. 30, 1942
Newlin, John S. Ennis AAF Jan. 15, 1946
Nichols, Whittington Jr. Waxahachie AAF Nov. 31, 1943
Nicklas, Jesse L. Ennis USA June 12, 1944
Patterson, James Ennis USA Mar., 1945
Peacock, J. R. Milford USA Nov. 29, 1944
Perkins, Andy W. Italy USA Sept. 23, 1943
Pierce, William Jr. Ennis USMC Mar. 13, 1945
Raines, Billy Tom Waxahachie USA Apr. 01, 1945
Ray, Howell T. Ennis USA June 21, 1944
Reyther, Fred Ennis USA Dec. 29, 1944
Richardson, Vernon Oak Grove USA Jan. 09, 1945
Ricks, Charles L. Jr. Ennis USA June 13, 1944
Ritchie, Charles W. Palmer USA Apr. 10, 1943
Rogers, Myron F. Ennis USA Sept. 18, 1943
Ross, Jackson B. Ennis AAF May 27, 1945
Rountree, James E. Ellis Co. USA July 14, 1944
Sargent, James W. Ellis Co. USA July 28, 1945
Schwartz, Malcolm L. Palmer AAF Dec. 26, 1944
Sealy, Calvin A. Palmer USA Feb. 20, 1945
Shaw, Herman T. Ennis USA Jan. 08, 1943
Shipp, Nimrod S. Sardis MM Oct. 20, 1943
Sills, Allen F. Ennis USA May 30, 1942
Singleton, Joe R. Mt. Peak USA Aug. 09, 1944
Smith, James D. Mt. Peak USA Sept. 28, 1941
Spurgeon, James R. Hopewell USA Nov. 12, 1944
Stanford, Donald Joe Red Oak AAF Mar. 03, 1941
Steadham, Edward Jr. Ellis Co. USA Aug. 29, 1943
Stein, Harry Ennis USA Jan. 07, 1945
Stone, David G. Waxahachie USN June 03, 1942
Sublett, Neeland Ennis USA Sept. 01, 1944
Sybert, Frank Italy AAF Apr. 30, 1942
Talkington, Donald P. Ferris USN Nov. 10, 1944
Tapia, Pablo Ennis USA Jan. 13, 1945
Taylor, Willard H. Ennis USA Jan. 15, 1945
Thompson, John B. Waxahachie AAF Aug. 10, 1944
Tolar, Reginald D. Ennis USA Dec. 22, 1942
Tollerson, Cecil M. Waxahachie USA Sept. 18, 1943
Toupal, Louis O. Ennis USA July 23, 1944
Townsell, Frank Ellis Co. USA Nov. 11, 1943
Trojacek, Emil F. Telico USA Dec. 31, 1942
Trull, Olin C. Waxahachie USA July 27, 1943
Ventrca, Edward G. Ennis USA June 04, 1944
Vrana, Johnny G. Ennis USA Jan. 17, 1945
Vrla, Edwin F. Ennis AAF Apr. 29, 1944
Walker, S. L. Ellis Co. USA Feb. 13, 1945
Ward, Lester C. Rockett USA Oct. 18, 1941
Warren, Miller P. Jr. Waxahachie USA Jan. 09, 1945
Webb, James Jr. Waxahachie USA May 02, 1944
Whiteley, Aurther Garrett USA Sept. 12, 1944
Wickliffe, Leland E. Ferris Navy Oct. 30, 1944
Wiggins, Sidney Allen Maypearl USA Aug. 09, 1944
Williams, John W. Milford AAF Sept. 19, 1943
Williams, Thomas Jr. Waxahachie USN Nov. 13, 1942
Wilson, Benny Ferris USN May 04, 1945
Wilson, Roscoe Mt. Peak AAF June 06, 1944
Windham, Charley Italy USA Dec. 23, 1944
Windham, Walter J. Italy USA Feb. 27, 1945
Winford, Harris W. Palmer USA Sept. 15, 1943
Winn, Tommy Jr. Waxahachie USN Feb. 07, 1945
Yarbrough, George H. Waxahachie USN Dec. 14, 1944
Yates, Will A. Waxahachie AAF Sept. 04, 1943
Youngblood, Robert Jr. Ferris USN May 12, 1943
Youngblood, Guy A. Ennis USA Nov. 10, 1944
Zahnen, James P. Ennis USA Jan. 01, 1945
Zhanel, Joe T. Telico USA Feb. 25, 1945
Zhanel, John J. Ennis USA Apr. 21, 1944
KOREAN WAR
Arriaga, Raymond C. Ennis USA Dec. 09, 1952
Bates, Lonzo Palmer USA Nov. 29, 1950
Barton, Franklin D. Ellis Co. USA Sept. 15, 1950
Bennett, Percy Five Points USA Dec. 24, 1951
Bond, Malcolm D. Ennis USA Nov. 25, 1950
Cook, Alfred Ennis USA Aug. 22, 1951
Couch, Walter R. Italy USA June 30, 1951
Davis, Willie D. Ennis USA July 09, 1953
Gurecky, Edwin M. Ennis USA Nov. 26, 1950
Hejny, Raymond F. Ennis USMC Mar. 27, 1953
Honza, Henry Albert Ennis USMC Sept. 24, 1950
Hopkins, Charles G. Palmer USA Dec. 03, 1950
Johnson, James W. Maypearl USMC Feb. 10, 1952
Milner, Wallace D. Ennis USA Apr. 25, 1951
Mooneyham, Calvin L. Ellis Co. USA Sept. 18, 1950
Richardson, Clark B. Ellis Co. USA Nov. 06, 1950
Seay, Earl M. Waxahachie USA July 24, 1950
Sneed, Albert Italy USA July 24, 1952
Tate, Ted N. Waxahachie USAF July 12, 1952
Taylor, Raymond Waxahachie USA Dec. 01, 1950
Walton, Gussie Vay Italy USMC Sept. 20, 1952
Willis, James G. Jr. Italy USAF Sept. 03, 1951
VIETNAM WAR
Allen, Eddie Hugh Waxahachie USMC May 27, 1968
Bell, Edward James Ennis USA Apr. 22, 1967
Burleson, Michael Waxahachie USMC May 19, 1968
Coley, Billy John Ennis USAF Dec. 20, 1963
Donaldson, Darrell Ennis USA Mar. 09, 1969
Esparza, Nicholas Jr. Waxahachie USA Apr. 20, 1969
Gabriel, Charles Palmer USAF Jan. 06, 1967
Hammonds, Roy Lee Waxahachie USMC Jan. 04, 1970
Henderson, David Jr. Italy USMC Nov. 04, 1968
Jones, Seaborn Dan Red Oak USA Jan. 21, 1968
Langley, Jody Mac Waxahachie USA Apr. 10, 1967
Loyd, Michael Glenn Red Oak USA Sept. 07, 1969
Luna, Julian Forreston USA July 09, 1970
Martinez, Sylvester Waxahachie USA June 15, 1971
McFarland, Charles Ferris USMC July 04, 1967
Menton, Albert David Ennis USMC Nov. 14, 1967
Murphy, William Elliott Ennis USA July 28, 1971
Rodgers, Larry Joe Waxahachie USMC Mar. 17, 1968
PEACE TIME
Martin, James T. Waxahachie USN Sept 8., 1923
Baucom, Bryne V. Milford AAF May 30, 1928
Sumner, Duward F. Waxahachie AAF Apr. 07, 1946
Cox, Glenn Dorsey Waxahachie USN Apr. 26, 1946
Harrison, Raymond Ennis USMC Nov. 07, 1955
Waedekin, C. A. Jr. Ennis USAF Apr. 24, 1956
Faulkner, Charles E. Red Oak USN Feb. 24, 1960
Roark, Donald B. Waxahachie USN Jan. 30, 1963
Marshall, Kyle D. Waxahachie USAF Jan. 15, 1985
Washington, Warren Ennis USN Apr. 27, 1988
Guana, Timothy L. Ennis USN Oct. 12, 2000
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