Preserving The Oral HistorIES of Combat Veterans
3:41 | Squad Leader Curtis Mackey recalls a couple of close encounters and close calls during his time in France. One lucky decision ended up being a lifesaver.
Keywords : D-Day Curtis Mackey Army WWII
Curtis Mackey discusses the rigorous training prior to war in Camp Blanding, Florida, then the large scale war games known as Tennessee Maneuvers, and finally dangerous training exercises in Europe just prior to D-Day.
Just before D-Day, Curtis Mackey and members of his platoon were asked to participate in a parade to celebrate the arrival of American forces. He recalls several important figures in attendance.
Curtis Mackey describes the relatively quiet first day in Normandy because of where he landed, however the next few days were much more eventful, resulting in a near-death experience and many other dangerous encounters.
Curtis Mackey describes his first encounter against a German missile known as a Nebelwerfer, more commonly known by its nickname Screaming Mimi.
As U.S. troops began moving through France after landing on the beaches of France, Curtis Mackey explains how small groups of soldiers were sent out both day and night to go out on patrol. He recalls one of his first assignments.
Curtis Mackey describes the events leading up to an injury. He was on patrol en route to Saint-Lo in Normandy and was faced with a situation that forced him to shoot with one hand and hang from a high barbed wire fence with the other hand.
Curtis Mackey remembers a close encounter in Northern France. He passed a truck filled with bodies and then came across a completely silent and empty area, however it was at that moment a sniper fired.
Curtis Mackey recalls an incident where he encountered heavy air burst artillery in an open field on his way to the rear for church services. Luckily, there was a foxhole nearby.
