517PRCT veteran back in the Maritime Alps - Southern France - August 2008

[dogface44]

Ignatius J. BAIL - 460th PFAB - 517th PRCT - A Battery

 

On August 13th 2008, Mr Ignatius Bail visited the Maritime Alps where he fought in September 1944. He had never returned to this area of France since 1944.

We met him at l'Escarene with his family with our 517th PRCT jumpsuits and 460th PFAB jeep to show him the area and find the spot where he was wounded.

 

Mr Bail enlisted in the paratroops at the age of 17 et he was 19 when he bailed out in Southern France on August 15th, 1944.

He went all the way from the dropzones to the Maritime Alps.

 

At his arrival at l'Escarene early September 1944, his 75mm battery was installed on the the railroad embankment near l’Escarene railway station.

 

On September 6, 1944, a German shell hit his Howitzer and Bail sees his best friend running away with blood squirting out of his neck.

He runs after him and they both roll down the slope to find cover in the in the tunnel under the embankment. Unaware that he had also been wounded by schrapnel,

Pvt Bail was taking care of his best friend when a medic arrived and sent him to the first aid station. Bail was wounded in the shoulder and had 8 big chunks of schrapnel removed.

After the visit of the various positions of the 517th, an official ceremony was organized for him at the city hall and Mr Bail was made a citizen of honor of l'Escarene.

We all got very emotionnal when Mr Felix Rodilla, a French veteran of the 9th DIC arrived (9eme Division d'Infanterie Coloniale - Mr Rodilla was an NCO in 9th DIC

and saw action in 1940, in North Africa 42-43, Island of Elba, Southern France, Rhone Valley, Rhineland, Germany).

 

He took Mr Bail in his arms and said:

 

"My friend, we have made the same path, we have seen the same horrors, without knowing eachother - but we both ended in the heart of Germany with the same goal: Freedom! I was in Morrocco in 1942 when you Americans arrived and we received your equipment which was the best. Without you we would never have won the war."

 

After the ceremony a helicopter took Mr Bail and his family for a tour of the 517th battlefront.

 

L'Escarene, where the 517th was stationned September 1944

 

 

 

A 460th PFAB Howitzer near the Railway station at l'Escarene.

 

The same place today

[dogface44]

The tunnel where the FSSF and the 517th saw action. The damage in the tunnel was made by FSSF half-track.

 

 

The place where Mr Bail was wounded.

 

[dogface44]

Visiting the area in a 460th PFAB jeep!

 

 

Going up Col de Braus

 

 

The same place in 1944.

[dogface44]

Col de Braus

 

 

[dogface44]

With the mayor at the city hall - Mr Bail is made a citizen of Honor of l'Escarene.

 

With Mr Felix Rodilla, French Veteran of the 9th DIC who went all the way from N-Africa to Germany.

 

With the mayor of l'Escarene after the ceremony

 

Before departing, a helicopter flight is organized to see the 517th area.

 

 

[Gregory]

What a topic!

Bravo Dogface, perfect job, pictorial and work of living history lovers.

Bravo!

[Teamski]

I love the then and now shot of the jeep! Well done!!

 

-Ski