Ronnie Posted May 5, 2017 Share #1 Posted May 5, 2017 I am in an argument with a fellow who says the two men in the photo below are Col. Ben Vandervoort and Gen. James Gavin. Insets show the real Vandervoort and Gavin. The photo was taken on June 13, 1944. There was heavy fighting in the Ste. Mere Eglise area at that time. I would like anyone familiar with these two men to please chime in and tell me what you think. I will tell you now that I say 100% these two men are NOT Gavin and Vandervoor. Once I read some comments I will comment further. Thanks. Ronnie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted May 5, 2017 Share #2 Posted May 5, 2017 All this comes from this site, but I'm in the camp that these are not them. https://alchetron.com/Benjamin-H-Vandervoort-744505-W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted May 5, 2017 Share #3 Posted May 5, 2017 This is Gavin in Normandy. And Gavin and Vandervoort together in Der Normandie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted May 5, 2017 Author Share #4 Posted May 5, 2017 Thanks Patches. You are 100% right. That is not Gavin and Vandervoort. I don't know about that link you posted but whoever posted it and I think I have an idea does not know what he is talking about. Ronnie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted May 5, 2017 Share #5 Posted May 5, 2017 Thanks Patches. You are 100% right. That is not Gavin and Vandervoort. I don't know about that link you posted but whoever posted it and I think I have an idea does not know what he is talking about. Ronnie Yeah, those are two different, other weary 82d troopers. It's interesting though to see that Gavin seems to have favored an unadorned pot most of the time, we see him a lot during the course of the war in the field without a net on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted May 5, 2017 Author Share #6 Posted May 5, 2017 I have only found one photo of Gavin with a net on his helmet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WW2JAKE Posted May 5, 2017 Share #7 Posted May 5, 2017 Don't all pictures showing Gavin's left side show him with an SSI? The man in the original picture doesn't appear to have one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted May 5, 2017 Share #8 Posted May 5, 2017 I have only found one photo of Gavin with a net on his helmet. In the field, in combat? Can you post it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted May 6, 2017 Author Share #9 Posted May 6, 2017 I'll see if I can find it Patches. It may have been while in Sicily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted May 6, 2017 Author Share #10 Posted May 6, 2017 Btw I am friends with Vandervoort's grand daughter so I sent her the photo. Unequivocally not my granddaddy is what she said. She only met Gavin once or twice and did not feel comfortable commenting on him but it doesn't matter as it isn't Gavin. A blind man can see these men are not Gavin and Vandervoort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted June 29, 2017 Share #11 Posted June 29, 2017 Here's another view of Jumping Jim in Normandy. (Whose the Colonel there by the way) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted June 29, 2017 Share #12 Posted June 29, 2017 That Full Bird is Roy Lindquist http://www.falconhistory.co.uk/blank https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_E._Lindquist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted June 30, 2017 Author Share #13 Posted June 30, 2017 Nice work Patches. Look at the size of that Insignia on his helmet. Ronnie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted June 30, 2017 Share #14 Posted June 30, 2017 Nice work Patches. Look at the size of that Insignia on his helmet. Ronnie Thanks, I think that was stateside before the 508th shipped out to Great Britain, or in Great Britain itself before D-Day (remembering that the 508th was attached to the 82nd when it arrived there from Italy), would be interested to see if he did wear in action. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumpin Jack Posted June 30, 2017 Share #15 Posted June 30, 2017 I spent three days with General Gavin, and can say the man in the top photo is not him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted July 1, 2017 Author Share #16 Posted July 1, 2017 Of course it isn't and thank you for posting because there is a knucklehead out there that insists it's him.....it is not Gavin! Thanks Jack. Ronnie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted July 1, 2017 Share #17 Posted July 1, 2017 Of course it isn't and thank you for posting because there is a knucklehead out there that insists it's him.....it is not Gavin! Thanks Jack. Ronnie He's still insisting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted July 1, 2017 Author Share #18 Posted July 1, 2017 He can't stand to be wrong nor admit it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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