| | Carentan O Carentan | |
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Dick Stodghill Five Star Member
Number of posts : 3795 Registration date : 2008-05-04 Age : 98 Location : Akron, Ohio
| Subject: Carentan O Carentan Mon May 25, 2009 10:06 am | |
| On Memorial Day I always read a poem by Louis Simpson about a beautiful little Normandy town I remember well: Carentan O Carentan Trees in the old days used to stand And shape a shady lane Where lovers wandered hand in hand Who came from Carentan. This was the shining green canal Where we came two by two Walking at combat-interval. Such trees we never knew. The day was early June, the ground Was soft and bright with dew. Far away the guns did sound, But here the sky was blue. The sky was blue, but there a smoke Hung still above the sea Where the ships together spoke To towns we could not see. Could you have seen us through a glass You would have said a walk Of farmers out to turn the grass, Each with his own hay-fork. The watchers in their leopard suits Waited till it was time, And aimed between the belt and boot And let the barrel climb. I must lie down at once, there is A hammer at my knee. And call it death or cowardice, Don’t count again on me. Everything’s all right, Mother, Everyone gets the same At one time or another. It’s all in the game. I never strolled, nor ever shall, Down such a leafy lane. I never drank in a canal, Nor ever shall again. There is a whistling in the leaves And it is not the wind, The twigs are falling from the knives That cut men to the ground. Tell me, Master-Sergeant, The way to turn and shoot. But the Sergeant’s silent That taught me how to do it. O Captain, show us quickly Our place upon the map. But the Captain’s sickly And taking a long nap. Lieutenant, what’s my duty, My place in the platoon? He too’s a sleeping beauty, Charmed by that strange tune. Carentan O Carentan Before we met with you We never yet had lost a man Or known what death could do. – Louis Simpson |
| | | zadaconnaway Five Star Member
Number of posts : 4017 Registration date : 2008-01-16 Age : 76 Location : Washington, USA
| Subject: Re: Carentan O Carentan Mon May 25, 2009 11:17 am | |
| Very fitting, Dick. I am glad you posted it for us. |
| | | Dick Stodghill Five Star Member
Number of posts : 3795 Registration date : 2008-05-04 Age : 98 Location : Akron, Ohio
| Subject: Re: Carentan O Carentan Mon May 25, 2009 12:45 pm | |
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| | | alice Five Star Member
Number of posts : 15672 Registration date : 2008-10-22 Age : 76 Location : Redmond, WA
| Subject: Re: Carentan O Carentan Mon May 25, 2009 12:52 pm | |
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| | | Dick Stodghill Five Star Member
Number of posts : 3795 Registration date : 2008-05-04 Age : 98 Location : Akron, Ohio
| Subject: Re: Carentan O Carentan Mon May 25, 2009 3:18 pm | |
| This is one side of the square in Carentan. An entire episode of "Band of Brothers" was devoted to the 101st Airborne's battle there. The arches over the sidewalk were shown in the film. In the fighting a mile south of town we had many men killed, including a battalion commander, two company commanders several lieutenants and dozens of enlisted men. It's a wonderful little town. |
| | | Carol Troestler Five Star Member
Number of posts : 3827 Registration date : 2008-06-07 Age : 86 Location : Wisconsin
| Subject: Re: Carentan O Carentan Mon May 25, 2009 4:23 pm | |
| I remember driving through those little towns on the 50th anniversary of D-Day. I have never seen so many American flags stretched across the roads.
You were not alone. We spoke with many there that day from the UK who had come across the channel once again. They had been seen off by the Queen Mother, and brought their own London taxis and drivers. We spent an evening with them at the hotel where we stayed in Calais, listening to stories such as yours. My husband talked to a man who arrived in a two-man sub two days before D-Day.
Carol |
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