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MyFatherInWWII

517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team
My brother sent me a link to some correspondance between my Dad, Charles Lynn Brown, and another paratrooper, Joe Miller regarding their memories of a particular incident during WWII. Searching some more through this site, I found several other references to my dad which are listed below. After opening the link, do a search for "Brown".

• Lynn Brown's letter to Joe Miller
• http://517prct.org/photos/west.htm
• http://517prct.org/documents/odyssey/paratroopers_odyssey.htm
• http://517prct.org/mailcall/517.html

Entry of Mar 29, 2002 at 20:05 [EST] From: Joe D. Miller , Subject: Letter to Chaplain Brown - Feb 1986

February 10 1986

Rev. Charles Lynn Brown Blowing Rock, NC

Dear Rev. Brown:

Let me introduce myself as the first soldier you met after landing in southern France. That experience was one which I shall never forget and maybe you will enjoy hearing my version of that event.

Reading the recently published history of the 517th Parachute Combat Team entitled, "Paratroopers' Odyssey," prompted me to do so. On page 49, paragraph 3, the following comment is made:

"A mile and half south of Le Muy, Regimental S-3 Major Forest Paxton assembled his stick and waited for daylight. He then moved north, picking up Alicki, some of the demo platoon, and a collection of high-ranking talent including Regimental Surgeon Major Vella, Chaplain Brown, and Major Kinzer of the artillery. Moving west toward La Motte, Paxton gathered up another 75 men from F Company, the 460th, and the Engineers. At La Motte contact was made with Company E. The energetic Paxton then went on to set up the Regimental CP at Ste. Roseline. When Colonel Graves arrived at 1300 Paxton was issuing orders for the removal of anti-airborne obstacles from the Drop Zone."

This statement plus the map on page 42 helped me locate our exact drop zone. If I am correct, you and I landed a few hundred yards north of Highway N7 and either in or on the banks of the Nartuby River. I had touched down safely on the unseen edge of the river bank and, to my surprise, tumbled backwards over the cliff to the edge of the water. In the process, I sustained a fractured right foot and was left hanging by a chute that was caught in the tree tops above the bank.

Although I knew I was not badly hurt, my dangling position made it most difficult for me to get out of the harness and ready for battle. During those awful seconds which seemed like hours, I realized someone was wading the stream and approach in my position. A moment of panic occurred but then I decided to remain very silent with the only weapon I could reach, my jump knife, firmly held in my right hand. It was my intention to defend myself with the knife if this person seemed to be the enemy. Had you moved six inches closer before giving the password, I am quite certain the worst would have happened.

In all the darkness around the edge of the stream, no one could see that You did not carry arms or that you had on a friendly shoulder patch. This I realized as you were helping me climb to the top of the river bank. Shortly afterwards, I realized you were Chaplain Brown and I was embarrassed because I had used some very salty language due to the pain in my foot.

You may recall that as we were moving along the river toward the highway, we were suddenly halted by a booming voice that turned out to belong to a British Sergeant Major, who had already assembled his troops and was preparing to do battle in Le Muy, which was their assignment. I was impressed with the fact that he had his act together so quickly and that we were still in limbo.

All of this occurred while it was still too dark to really see what we were doing. Nevertheless. the two of us moved on to the highway where you scared a Frenchman on a bike half to death by halting him as he approached the bridge. Seems to me that he was suspended in mid air for several seconds while his bike continued toward town.

About that time, we met some others from the 517th and that was the last time I recall seeing you. I was able to hobble several miles that day; but once I stopped and removed my boot, walking was impossible.

The rest of the story nee d not be told and I had only intended to recount an incident of some significance to two strangers who met on a dark, foggy, early morning August 15, 1944.

It would be interesting to hear your accounting of these events. I am certain our stories will differ, but to what extent would be interesting to learn.

Sincerely, Joe D. Miller

---

Entry of Mar 29, 2002 at 23:21 [EST] From: Charles Lynn Brown , 517th Chaplain Subject: Letter to Joe Miller - May, 1986

May 30, 1986

Mr. Joe Miller Frankfort, KY

Dear Joe:

Your letter brought back a clear memory -- half frightening, half-humorous. I remember landing, over water as we were told but really over land -- and the exact episode you describe.

The poor French farmer was on his way from his village to his farm outside the town. We were in the ditch by the road. I stopped (!) him and asked where we were. I also asked if there were Germans still in the village. He said "yes" -- squawking like a stuck-pig. I told him to "shut-up" (Tais-toi -- which is French for telling a barking dog to hush.) I have regretted my un-Chaplain-like language. I was afraid of German patrols in the area. When he got up, he started back for his village and I told him to go to his fields but not return "this way".

I am glad you made it back safely. What you may not know is that when I dropped I thought I had sprained my ankle. When we got together with Maj. Vella, he shipped me back to Naples (hospital) with a broken ankle. It was only a small splintered bone. After two weeks in the Naples Hospital -- complete boredom -- I hitched a ride on a "blood plane" to rejoin the 517th... using a cane. Col. Graves merely said: "You have been reported AWOL for the past two weeks". That was the end of that.

I enjoyed the history of the 517th. But it was primarily a "military history". It did not include the personal bits which you have helped supply.

All my thanks! If you are ever this way, please come and see me. Meanwhile, all my best!

Charles Lynn Brown

-- LynnwoodBrown - 18 Aug 2004

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