Absolutely!
Wilton
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dieselhead" <126die...@gmail.com>
To: "Mercedes Discussion List" <mercedes@okiebenz.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 06, 2013 12:46 PM
Subject: Re: [MBZ] 69 years A Reminder
>My brother, Lewis Clyde Strickland, then 21 and with 3 1/2 yrs in the US
>Navy, was the senior noncommissioned officer (NCO)/leader of a 48-man
>platoon of the 6th Naval Beach Battalion that went ashore on Omaha Beach,
>France, at 0730 on the 6th of June, 1944, to clear obstacles, secure the
>beach and control traffic to, from and on the beach. The unit was
>composed of many specialties, including, demolition, signalmen, radiomen,
>riflemen, medics, bulldozer operators and others - whatever necessary to
>manage the beach. They wore army combat uniforms and trained with the
>Army for the invasion. The only thing visible to distinguish them from
>army troops was an arc painted across the front of their helmets. Most
>of the men in his platoon were teenagers just 17, 18 and 19 years old. A
>few of the older men had been in the invasion of Sicily and a few, such
>as Lewis, had been in the invasion of North Africa. Though small in
>stature, Lewis was a giant in courage, dedication to accomplishing the
>mission, determination and care for the men in his platoon. He served as
>their mentor, their "mother," their "father," their leader. They
>affectionately called him, "Little Boats," in honor of his Navy
>specialty, boatswain's or boson's mate. Ensign Joe Vaghi, just out of
>college and new to the Navy when he became the platoon's
>Officer-In-Command (OIC) in late '43, said of Little Boats in 2001, "He
>taught me everything I ever needed to know about the Navy."
Wilton
Salute! to Lewis Clyde Strickland, and all the others who did the
"impossible"
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