“You are about to embark upon the great crusade toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle.”
~ General Dwight D. Eisenhower
World War II veteran of the 502nd PIR, David Clinton Tharp was not supposed to land in an apple tree or become separated from his 101st Airborne Division when Allied forces invaded Normandy 69 years ago, but that is exactly what happened.
Despite the mishaps, my father, David Tharp said the mission, which could easily have been a disaster was a smashing success. He was 20 years old when he and other members of the 101st Airborne Division were dropped behind Utah Beach in enemy territory on June 5, 1944 around midnight. The men knew that some of them were not coming back and many of them didn’t…
Dad was the second paratrooper in his aircraft to jump and estimated that the two-engine cargo plane was flying at 800 feet or less. Instead of finding a lighted path showing paratroopers where they were to go, Dad found himself in an apple tree. In spite of the mishap, Dad, who served as a radio communicator, counted himself very lucky, since many of his comrades were injured in the jump or drowned in the many channels that separated fields. After cutting himself loose from the tree, he was faced with a difficult task, as he couldn’t see and had no idea where he was.
The only source of identification they had was a piece of tin that looked like a cricket and would make a clicking sound. If someone heard one click they were to respond with two clicks to indicate that they were with the Allied forces. The only problem with that was no one answered his click after he parachuted into the apple orchard. He finally hooked up with another soldier in his division and later with other troops.
When the paratroopers were dropped, they drifted far apart and everyone scattered. While this could have been deadly, Dad said it ended up being a blessing. It created mass confusion in the German troops, and because they kept seeing Allied forces scattered all over, they assumed there were about 10,000 more troops than there actually were. The rest is history.
My father, David Tharp and pictured rarely spoke of his war experience. It was not until he was interviewed by The Daily Commercial Newspaper in June of 1994, that he began to offer these details. His wartime letters which are now preserved in the book, COMES A SOLDIER’S WHISPER is one soldier’s journey through WWII leading to love, honor and sacrifice. Dad passed away in January 1999. But his memory and those of that wonderful generation will live on forever.
Comes A Soldier’s Whisper remembering our history and veterans one day at a time…
Jenny Tharp La Sala
Proud Airborne Veteran Daughter
comesasoldierswhisper.com/
