These words were written by my 101st Airborne father, David Tharp one month before jumping on D-Day, June 6, 1944.
In his letter he would write, “Ever hear about a man whose life hangs by a thread? Well, my silk parachute is my silent weapon, and my life hangs by it’s thread”. Truer words could not be spoken, as all of their lives hung by a thread. Dad would next write about 10 days after his jump:
“The people seem very glad we are here. But my French not being very good, I can’t understand but damn little. I’ve been taking some pictures of everyday life, some of my buddies and me. The countryside is covered with hedgerows much the same as England only the hedges are higher and the fields are smaller. They have their small villages, which seem rather nice, or rather I should say, I imagined they used to be”.
On June 20, 1944, Dad would write again:
“I suppose you’ve heard through the news broadcast or in the papers about what the troopers have been doing over here. Well, here is a bit of news. Our unit has been awarded the Presidential Citation for extraordinary service and heroism in performing our duties on June 6, 1944, something to be proud of”.
The 101st Airborne Division first saw combat during the Normandy invasion, June 6, 1944. The division, as part of the VII Corps assault, jumped in the dark morning before H-Hour to seize positions west of Utah Beach. Given the mission of anchoring the corp’s southern flank, the division was also to eliminate the German’s secondary beach defenses, allowing the seaborne forces of the 4th Infantry Division, once ashore to continue inland. The Screaming Eagles were to capture the causeway bridges that ran behind the beach between St. martin-de-Varreville and Pouppeville. In the division’s southern sector, it was to seize the la Barquette lock and destroy a highway bridge northwest of the town of Carentan and a railroad bridge farther west.
Dad would also later write, “So they are praising the paratroops back home, are they? Well, I can say they deserve it and then some. As for me, I’m mystified with my life and body intact. Keep that chin up. I’ll be back someday”. And he came back indeed, miraculously making it through D-Day, Carentan (Purple Heart Lane), Holland and the Battle of the Bulge. Little did he know that his letters and sentiments would be whispered 70 years later in dedication and tribute to all who served. General Dwight D. Eisenhower shown giving the paratroopers their send off making history. My father is top right with his helmet on.
Thank you, Dad and to all of the men and women who fought to protect the world from tyranny on that day!
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