Revisiting D-Day

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By Capt. Jim Kosmo

My father-in-law William D. Bowell Sr. jumped into Normandy in northern France near Sainte-Mere-Eglise with the 82nd Airborne on June 6, 1944, D-Day. Landing behind enemy lines Bowell hid in a barn where he was fed and assisted by a French family even as Nazi soldiers passed through the yard. Like most of those in his unit Bowell found himself in the midst of numerous battles, some virtually nose-to-nose with German soldiers. Unlike many of his buddies, Bowell survived all of his close encounters, although injured twice, and lived to tell his story.

In October 2005 we had coffee at that French farm house, met the family that protected Bill from the Germans and visited the battlefields and cemeteries where the blood of thousands of Americans altered the course of history. Standing in the loft of the very barn where he hid under a pile of hay as German soldiers walked below was a breathtaking experience. Talking with this amicable, easy-going farm family that could just as easily have come from Scandia, MN as La Fiere, France, it was difficult to imagine the horror that had reined upon their country in 1944.

The farm actually is quite large and has several sizeable stone structures including the house and barn. It was especially amazing to realize that the farmhouse was constructed in the 15th century, about the time Columbus came to America. Our host, Gerald Lemiere is the son of the couple that risked their lives to assist Bowell.

After the jump Bowell joined up with a handful of paratroopers. Despite a language barrier a farmer was able to point out their location on a map, about 25 miles from their target, but 61 years later Bowell suddenly realizes that that error may have saved his life. “The first day we found a hidden spot and stayed there until nightfall,” he explains. “We headed north through orchards and a maze of hedgerows. Near dawn we ran into the Douve River with no way to cross. The only bridge was heavily guarded by the Germans.”

Again, the French came to their aid. Bowell slipped through a field to a prosperous-looking farm with gray stone buildings. There he met Gerald Lemiere’s parents who explained that they were part of the French underground. They gave him food and a place to sleep. Bowell brought in his men and they spent the night hiding in the barn. The next day they were taken to another farm where arrangements were made for a row boat to ferry two at a time them across the river.

Bowell and his buddies made it across the river but not without encountering enemy troops and engaging in a pitched two-hour battle. Just as the paratroopers were about to be overrun by the enemy a U.S. Army battalion arrived and drove off the Germans. Bowell was among 12 of the original 45 paratroopers to survive. Injured he trudged back to the rear for medical assistance. After a brief stint at the rear Bowell returned to battle where he suffered a shrapnel wound and was evacuated to England to mend and then back into action in the Battle of the Bulge.

Amfreville, one of the tiny French towns the 82nd Airborne liberated in 1944, has a large monument to the 507th PIR but the small community has little money to improve and maintain the memorial. Capt. Bowell presented two new U.S. flags to Amfreville Mayor Alain Maitre to replace the worn flag he had seen on an earlier visit.

Next we traveled to Graignes, another small city in Normandy with a similar war history. We were scheduled to have lunch with Mayor M. David Small , but as an elementary school teacher he had only a limited time for lunch. He invited us to visit his classroom before lunch to meet with his students and answer their questions. Our entourage arrived at the neat little school where 16 hungry minds drilled Bowell with questions. Inasmuch as virtually every one of the students had relatives with direct war experience they had extensive knowledge and excellent questions. The old soldier held court with the youngsters and it was truly difficult to determine who enjoyed the exchange the most.

After visits to the killing fields at Omaha Beach and Utah Beach, where the broken guns, shattered concrete bunkers and pock-marked terrain stand today as living testimony to the bloody battles of 1944, we traveled to the American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, overlooking the sea. The military cemetery that is owned and maintained by the U.S. has 9,387 graves each marked with a stark white cross. At the cemetery Bowell was given the honor of receiving the flag as it was lowered. After folding and presenting the colors to end the day he turned abruptly toward the 9,387 white crosses, stood at a perfect attention and saluted his fallen comrades. Even the crusty old soldier/riverboat captain couldn’t hold back a tear.

Another touching event occurred at dinner one night in Bayeux, France when a vacationing Belgium teacher approached Bowell and embraced him heartily. He explained that his father had been rescued from a Nazi concentration camp by the U.S. airborne and that his family is tremendously grateful to the Americans. The old soldier shed another tear.

The Belgian’s appreciation was very demonstrative, but not uncommon as we traveled through Normandy. In fact, although we had embarked upon our European voyage with some trepidation, we were greeted by nothing but smiles and grand acts of kindness throughout France, Italy and Spain on the streets, in restaurants and everywhere we went. The fear of anti-American sentiment was non-existent. Undoubtedly there are people throughout the world who dislike Americans, but we never saw them. The only unpleasant people we met were two Paris cab drivers, but that had nothing to do with our being Americans; they just don’t like anyone.


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