78th Collector Posted January 1, 2009 Share #1 Posted January 1, 2009 I wanted to take the opportunity to introduce the forum to James E. Horn, US Army, HQ Company, 2nd Ranger Battalion. Yes, he was one of Rudders Rangers. In fact, he went in on Rudder's boat. He was one of the four HQ Company men assigned to climb Pointe du Hoc on D-Day. His assignment that day was to guard one of the radio operators. Amazingly, both he and that radio operator survived D-Day largely unscathed and both survived the rest of the war. It is amazing to hear his story about the frustration of climbing Pointe du Hoc with his Thompson strapped across his shoulders, unable to fight back, until he got to the top of the cliff. These two pictures were taken on August 29, 2008 and show Jim Horn with my son, Tommy, age 4, looking at a diary/scrapbook Jim kept throughout the war. He has had the diary transcribed and gives copies to people that visit him. It is a nice read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
78th Collector Posted January 1, 2009 Author Share #2 Posted January 1, 2009 I wanted to take the opportunity to introduce the forum to James E. Horn, US Army, HQ Company, 2nd Ranger Battalion. Yes, he was one of Rudders Rangers. In fact, he went in on Rudder's boat. He was one of the four HQ Company men assigned to climb Pointe du Hoc on D-Day. His assignment that day was to guard one of the radio operators. Amazingly, both he and that radio operator survived D-Day largely unscathed and both survived the rest of the war. It is amazing to hear his story about the frustration of climbing Pointe du Hoc with his Thompson strapped across his shoulders, unable to fight back, until he got to the top of the cliff. These two pictures were taken on August 29, 2008 and show Jim Horn with my son, Tommy, age 4, looking at a diary/scrapbook Jim kept throughout the war. He has had the diary transcribed and gives copies to people that visit him. It is a nice read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blake_E Posted January 1, 2009 Share #3 Posted January 1, 2009 Fantastic, just fantastic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disneydave Posted January 1, 2009 Share #4 Posted January 1, 2009 Great that he is willing to share his history with the younger generations! If possible, I'd love to get a copy of his diary that he gives out for my reference library. I'd be willing to pay any associated costs. Thanks! I interviewed several D-Day Rangers for an article I wrote for WW II magazine about Point du Hoc and the German artillery battery down the road at Maisy. To read an account of the story visit this link: http://www.historynet.com/does-pointe-du-h...till-matter.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teufelhund Posted January 1, 2009 Share #5 Posted January 1, 2009 Great that he is willing to share his history with the younger generations! If possible, I'd love to get a copy of his diary that he gives out for my reference library. I'd be willing to pay any associated costs. Thanks! I interviewed several D-Day Rangers for an article I wrote for WW II magazine about Point du Hoc and the German artillery battery down the road at Maisy. To read an account of the story visit this link: http://www.historynet.com/does-pointe-du-h...till-matter.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Willaert Posted January 1, 2009 Share #6 Posted January 1, 2009 I think he must be one of the last 'Pointe du Hoc' Rangers... I knew quite a few of them in the 80's and early 90's, especially Ted Lapres who was a Lt on D-Day... Ted passed away in 1997... Nice article, JOhan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
78th Collector Posted January 1, 2009 Author Share #7 Posted January 1, 2009 Great that he is willing to share his history with the younger generations! If possible, I'd love to get a copy of his diary that he gives out for my reference library. I'd be willing to pay any associated costs. Thanks! I interviewed several D-Day Rangers for an article I wrote for WW II magazine about Point du Hoc and the German artillery battery down the road at Maisy. To read an account of the story visit this link: http://www.historynet.com/does-pointe-du-h...till-matter.htm I will check with Jim to see if he has any more copies available now. I am not sure about the cost but I will let you know sometime this week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
78th Collector Posted January 1, 2009 Author Share #8 Posted January 1, 2009 I think he must be one of the last 'Pointe du Hoc' Rangers...I knew quite a few of them in the 80's and early 90's, especially Ted Lapres who was a Lt on D-Day... Ted passed away in 1997... Nice article, JOhan I am not sure how many are left from the Pointe du Hoc Rangers, but I do know from talking to Jim that he has been in recent contact with Leonard Lommell, and James Eikner, another Lt. on D-Day. Those are the only other ones I can currently verify. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blake_E Posted January 1, 2009 Share #9 Posted January 1, 2009 http://i39.tinypic.com/xc0px4.jpg[/imhttp://i44.tinypic.com/34s3xjc.jpg[/im http://i40.tinypic.com/2128hom.jpg[/im wow never seen real life pics like that, really puts things into perspective Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disneydave Posted January 1, 2009 Share #10 Posted January 1, 2009 Thanks Johan...it was a real treat for me to track down the Rangers I did. Some didn't want to talk about their war experiences, while others spoke to me for an extended period of time. Great images teufelhund - don't always see the site from that perspective. 78th Collector - thanks...I await your reply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teufelhund Posted January 1, 2009 Share #11 Posted January 1, 2009 Here are some more... back to 2002 Will see each other next June Beste wensen voor iedereen hier, niet waar Johan en de anderen Happy new year to all of you and your family V T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
78th Collector Posted January 2, 2009 Author Share #12 Posted January 2, 2009 I wanted to take the opportunity to introduce the forum to James E. Horn, US Army, HQ Company, 2nd Ranger Battalion. Yes, he was one of Rudders Rangers. In fact, he went in on Rudder's boat. He was one of the four HQ Company men assigned to climb Pointe du Hoc on D-Day. His assignment that day was to guard one of the radio operators. Amazingly, both he and that radio operator survived D-Day largely unscathed and both survived the rest of the war. It is amazing to hear his story about the frustration of climbing Pointe du Hoc with his Thompson strapped across his shoulders, unable to fight back, until he got to the top of the cliff. These two pictures were taken on August 29, 2008 and show Jim Horn with my son, Tommy, age 4, looking at a diary/scrapbook Jim kept throughout the war. He has had the diary transcribed and gives copies to people that visit him. It is a nice read. I want to add that both of Jim Horn's sons served in Vietnam, one also named Jim did two tours with the Navy and then switched to the Army and did something like twenty years with special forces. The other son Michael served with the Marines in Vietnam and was KIA about twenty days of arriving in country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Rock Posted January 2, 2009 Share #13 Posted January 2, 2009 All: I can say is my hats off to Mr. Horn. It is because of men like him we live in a world not dominated by a couple of mad men. Mr. horn, like so many veterans, is a true hero in every sense of the word. Also, I appreciate the photos and perspectives in this thread. Finally, I am writing a book on W.W.II and would love to interview a D-Day Ranger. Can anyone let me know if this is still possible? Take care, Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjdevi1 Posted January 6, 2009 Share #14 Posted January 6, 2009 All, Does anyone know if George Kirschner is still living? He and his 2nd wife Kay were friends of my mothers. I know he had moved to Florida and was in failing health. At one time, he was going to give me the helmet that he wore when he climbed Pointe du Hoc! Well, I'm not worried about the helmet, (would be nice though!) but would like to talk to George again if he's still around. Thanks, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
78th Collector Posted January 9, 2009 Author Share #15 Posted January 9, 2009 James Horn was serving stateside with M Co., 423rd Infantry Regiment, 106th Infantry Division when they asked for volunteers to go overseas to join the 2nd Rangers. He was at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, passed all the necessary physicals and arrived in England in May, 1944 to join the 2nd Rangers. He told me that considering how things turned out for the 423rd, joining the 2nd Rangers probably ended up saving his life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest vanseters1991 Posted March 13, 2011 Share #16 Posted March 13, 2011 Hello all I just finished reading Rudder's Rangers and was searching for photos online and stumbled onto these gems! Thank you very much for sharing these awesome photos of Pointe du Hoc as it exists today. I realize this is an old string so I hope I won't get in trouble for resurrecting it! Some of you were discussing obtaining the diary of this fine gentleman pictured and I am wondering if this has been made available and where I might be able to purchase one. Any info or comments would be greatly appreciated! My dream is to someday visit Hitler's "fortress Europe" and I hope it happens eventually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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