“When soldiers have been baptized in the fire of a battle-field, they have all one rank in my eyes.”
~ Napoleon Bonaparte
On each of the occasions that my 101st Airborne father was injured and hospitalized, he would write how happy he was to return to his group of comrades.
He was unable to fully portray into words how important it was to finish the fight with his brothers. But one can read between the lines for a glimpse of the comradery felt between these men in battle, regardless of their rank or position, not unlike today. War is war. It changes a soldier forever and forms an unbreakable bond within the group of men.
Featured today is Dick Ladd volunteered for parachute training at Fort Benning, Georgia and graduated jump school by receiving his wings on November 27, 1943. There was heavy emphasis on the ‘Jump School’ daily roan runs and push-ups, but he made it through the sometimes grueling training.
Dick is a proud Screaming Eagle of the 101st Airborne, 502nd PIR. and survived jumping into Normandy on D-Day, fighting in the battle of Carentan (Purple Heart Lane), Holland and the Battle of the Bulge. Dick fondly remembers my father, David Tharp and and saw him the day before they jumped into Holland in September 1944 in advance of the British army. He later heard that Dad was injured. After gruesome fighting in Holland, various units of the 101st Airborne were transported to France on November 27, 1944. He and my father would later learn and be surprised that they were being transported again on December 18, 1944 by truck to stop the German onslaught and takeover of a small Belgian town named Bastogne. Dick was shot in both hands while riding on a tank upon being surrounded by Germans on December 21st. Although his group escaped that surprise, he did not receive medical treatment until after the first evacuation on December 28th to France and then on to England. He later returned to his 101st group ( a different unit from my father who was in Regimental Headquarters) in February 1945 and in May was sent to Austria for 4 months. He received permission from the Army to wed a Scottish lass, Helen with whom he has been married to ever since.
Fast forward twenty years later from the European battles, Dick saw my father from a distance at a 101st Airborne reunion in Chicago in 1964. He immediately recognized Dad and walked over to shake hands. It was as though time stood still and they were back in 1944 again preparing for their jump into Holland …
Here is an excerpt from COMES A SOLDIER’S WHISPER, where Dad wrote to his then sweetheart while he was in Berchtesgaden, Austria:
Austria
June 6, 1945
It is D-365, and I’m still kicking. One year ago, I was a very scared lad. First I was mad, then I was scared, and then both of them. That was one day I shall never forget. I pray that in my future years, I shall never live such a year as this past one has been. The pictures I had taken at Berchtesgaden are ready, hon. Everyone tells me I look very sad and old. In fact, they asked me if I was ready to cry. So you probably won’t like them at all. I’ll send them out today.
I’m not giving you any hope. But rumors are that I’ll be coming home around August or September. Don’t pin your hopes on it. That’s strictly talk.
All my love and kisses,
David
Richard Ladd is very proud to be an American veteran and is a member of the American Legion and 101st Airborne Association.
Preserving our history and memory of our veterans one day at a time…
Jenny Tharp La Sala
COMES A SOLDIER’S WHISPER
www.facebook.com/ComesASoldiersWhisper
www.comesasoldierswhisper.com
Book Orders can be placed on website, Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble.com
