It was through Mark Bando and his fabulous triggertimeforum.yuku.com/ website, that I was introduced to Mr. Robert Harle. Mark is the author of Breakout At Normandy and 101st Airborne: The Screaming Eagles At Normandy, just to name a few.

Mark explained to me that since Mr. Harle was in the same 101st Airborne 502nd PIR, also with regimental headquarters as my father, that they must have known each other. I met Mr. Harle in June 2013 at a 101st Airborne luncheon and was thrilled that not only did he know of my father, David Tharp, but knew him quite well. They met while on sea transport in early 1944 and shared English barracks together. Bob said that Dad had already been trained for the paratroopers stateside whereas Bob trained in England. Both were trained as radio communicators, jumped into D-Day together and were surrounded by the Germans during the Battle of the Bulge. Bob recalled that he was held up with his radio in a small barn outside of Castle Rolle whereas my father was inside the entrance of the castle operating his radio.

“I fondly remember your Dad as a soft spoken, handsome and very tall man, unlike some other rough, “tough cookies” they had in the soldier mix. When you saw your fellow comrades killed, you didn’t hesitate. But there were some who went over the edge and continued after a soldier was already gone. I remember a young German soldier was already passed away when a few of our soldiers kept tearing at his uniform and ripped off a flower from his lapel, the country flower, Eidelweiss. Many of the German soldiers wore the flower, representing strength and courage. I waited and went back to place the Edelweiss flower back onto the soldier’s lapel. It just wasn’t right. He looked so peaceful. That young man was like me. The war changed me. But the changes surfaced a few years after the war. I developed a temper and would break out into a rage at the sound of a car back firing or something as simple as a dog acting up. My wife would sometimes leave the house during those episodes. But I have mellowed over time. I’m 92 years old. There aren’t many of us left now.”
~ Robert Harle

Such a loving gesture amidst the horrors of war speaks accolades of human kindness and is a tribute to this very special man. It was through emotion and tear filled eyes that Robert Harle recalled this memory. After all these years, the pain remains. Like Bob, my father developed quite a temper from the war, which although mellowed with time played havoc with their otherwise gentle souls. After Bob finished his story, his wife walked over and said that he had never told her about that. Perhaps, Bob talking to the daughter of his now fallen comrade, my father who passed away in 1999 catapulted him back in time. Who would have thought that we would meet 70 years later. We are all connected.

Bob proceeded to tell me that several years ago a French woman purchased a paratrooper photo album in an antique store in France that belonged to a 101st AB 502nd PIR paratrooper. The photo album belonged to a paratrooper named Russel Miller but I she couldn’t find any information about him. Some names and address of paratroopers were written on the back of other pictures. She did some research on the internet and wrote to the one and only paratrooper found, Mr. Robert Harle who was apparently the best friend of Russell Miller. Mr. Harle’s daughter began communicating by e-mail with the young French woman who has aspirations of owning her own museum one day. Both I and the young lady from France began communicating too. She e-mailed me many photos to see if I recognized anyone. To my surprise and delight, she had three photos of my father, photos never seen by my family! Pictured first and second is Robert Harle and third is David Tharp, the photo revealed by our French source who has given permission for us to post our special FRENCH CONNECTION series and is trying to connect a name to the many photos. Our French contact wishes to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the vast WWII materials that she has collected over time.

“We are very grateful for what the American soldiers did to liberate France during the war, and we go to put flowers several times a year to several graves at the American cemetery in Omaha Beach.”
~ The French Connection Source

Both Bob Harle and Russell Miller’s photos have been added to the book, Comes A Soldier’s Whisper. When I sent Mr. Harle a copy of the book, he said, “I’m proud to have my Airborne friends in this book and inside my home.”

COMES A Soldier’s Whisper, remembering history and honoring our veterans, past and present.

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