STORIES OF HOWARD HUEBNER 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION 507TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT SERVICE FROM 1943 TO 1946 SER# SER#

Transcription

1 STORIES OF HOWARD HUEBNER HOWARD HUEBNER 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION 507TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT SERVICE FROM 1943 TO 1946 SER# SER# Written by: Howard Huebner 2005

2 STORIES OF HUOWARD HUEBNER STORIES OF HOWARD HUEBNER Howard Huebner 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment was attached to the 82nd Airborne Division when we went into Normandy on D-Day June After D-Day the 507th was assigned to the 17th Airborne Division. When the war ended in May 1945, the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment and the 17th Airbone Division were send to The States and deactivated. I was send to the 82nd Airborne Division and placed in the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment as a supply Sgt. and send to Berlin Germany for occupation duty until December of 1946 and send to The States to be discharged at Camp Atterbury Indiana. 1 Combat Jump 4 battle stars awarded the Bronze Star

3 INTRODUCTION: HISTORY OF HOWARD HUEBNER Howard R. Huebner, born in Saginaw Michigan May Mother Martha Raese, father name Charles C. Huebner. I was born in Saginaw Michigan, attended ST. Paul s Lutheran School for 8 years and was confirmed in Then attended South intermediate School for the 9th grade one year. Then went on to Arthur Hill High School for 3 years and graduated in June of Then went to work for Ready Mix Concrete Company in Saginaw for the sum of 35 Cents an hour doing concrete work setting forms pouring and finishing concrete. I joint the Brick Layers Plasters and Cement Masons international Union #7 as an apprentice in Saginaw. I lived home with my parents and paid room and board of $5.00 a week. My buddies got to me one day and kept after me that I wasn t making any money (at 35 cents) an hour. They worked for General Motors Car Co. and made $1.00 an hour. So I quit my apprentice job and got a job with Graver Tank Co. out of Peoria Ill. They were doing work for Dow Chemical Co. in Midland Michigan. I went on to apply for a job and they told me to Ludington Michigan and they would have a job for me. That was about 150 Miles from Saginaw. They were doing a Government job, putting up large storage tanks of steel. This job was right on Lake Michigan. I brought a car, a 1935 Cadillac Convertible with a rumble seat white wall tires, red leather interior, doors opened to the front wheel wells on fenders, white wall tires with spoke wheels a radio and heater and a spotlight. It was a sporty car (I wished I had it today). I think I paid $250 for it back then. Then I drove up to Ludington and found a place to stay in a private home, my room and board was $12 a week with a lunch pail packed in the morning for my noon meal. The people that I stayed with were retired School Teachers. My pay was $1.25 an hour, a little more than my buddies where making. No more complaints on what I was making an hour from then on. After four months away from home I came back to Saginaw. I called the Union Office and they told me to go up to Bay City Michigan and go to work for Owen Ames and Kimbel, and I did which was about 25 miles from home. There I worked on a big Power Plant for consumer Power and my job was rolling tubes in huge boilers suspend in air about 200 Feet. There I made $1.50 an hour. I then sold my Convertible to a friend and bought a 1939 Pointiac Chieftain 4 door for $450. We had gas rationing and I could get all the gas I wanted as I was working on a Government job and I pooled with other workers from Saginaw. But one day in January of 1943 I got a card in the mail from Uncle Sam, saying I need you! So off I went to Detroit Michigan for a Physical and passes. In a few days after passing I was notified when to catch the train from Saginaw to be inducted into the united States Army. We were there a few days and told about the Army and they gave us Army clothes, and then we had to send out Civilian clothing home. Then we all made our ways to different Army Trainings Camps in the United States. I was send to Camp Wheeler Georgia for Army Basic Training. Then after 8 weeks of training I volunteered for the Paratroopers and sent to Fort Benning Georgia for 4 weeks of training and after 5 Jumps from an Airplane was send to alliance Nebraska.

4 TRAINING TRAINING I Howard Huebner, Ser# of Malzahn St. Saginaw Michican, was introduced into the United States Army at Camp Custer, Michigan, in February of 1943 at the age of 19 years old. We were issued our cloths and I was sent to Camp Wheeler Georgia from Arm Basic Training. After 8 weeks of training they asked us if anyone wanted to join the Paratroopers. Well the jump suit and Boots and extra money and the rest I joined. When I wrote home to my mother and dad, they thought I was nuts and so did all the people my mother talked to. I got lots of letters from the Neighbours telling me not to be a Paratrooper. Well I told them someone had to do it. After strenuous Training of callisthenics 8 Hours a day. You ran from one place to the other, from time to time for play. We climbed ropes 30 ft. high. We jumped out of mock towers into saw dust piles as simulated jumps. We twirled Indian pins about 1 ½ PDS. until your arms almost dropped off. When you slowed down, the Sgt. who was in command over all no matter if you were a Colonel or anyone else, would say give me the GI laugh. A lot of nice words were said under our breath to him. Then the Sgt. stood on a platform about four ft. high, so they could see us. I think we were in groups of about 30 fellows. Four weeks of training if you passed along with 5 Jumps and then I was send to Alliance, Nebraska to the 507th. I believe it was in June when I hooked up with the 507th. I was assigned to C. Company and after training on the rifle range I was made Machine gunner. While on the Rifle range, I shot the M1 Rifle from 50 yards to one thousand yard and got a three day pass to Denver Colorado, I shot Bull Eyes out of a possible hundred. We made a few jumps for the bond drivers while there. We also spent two weeks in a Black Hill Training like mountain climbing. When we got back to Alliance we all received a two week furlough. We were all glad to get home when we got back to Alliance after our furlough we prepared to leave and we all knew where we were going over there. We went by Train to Camp Shanks New York, we were there several days and we all went into New York. What a town. We set sail and landed in Ireland where most of the Paratroopers went first. We trained a lot of Cliff Climbing along the coast, and a lot of hiking to keep us in shape and double trimming. When we left Ireland we went to Nottingham, England to an old Castle Barton Stacey (still there today, I visited in 2005). When we left there, we went to the Air- Howard Huebner, taken in 1944 in Saginaw Michigan after being dicharged from training.

5 TRAINING TRAINING port which was surrounded by Barbwire and Guards like you were in a prison. You couldn t get out and no one get in. I think we were there for a week or so. We studied the area on sand table of the area we were supposed to jump into for days. Than we had to draw it from memory so we knew it by heart. They didn t told us about the land that the Germans had taken for four years to flood or about the Hedge Rows bigger than a mountain. We knew nothing of these two things until we landed. I landed about 10 miles or so from where I was supposed to land and about 3-4 Miles from Utah Beach. June 6th 1944 at about 2:32 AM. I was with the 506th Para Inf of the 101st Division. The changing of the DZ Zone I was not aware of and I don t think that would have entered into the picture as bad as things went, but it wasn t the Paratroopers fault of what happened. The weather was the blame and the fog. The Airplanes had lights on the back of the wing tips and nothing else to go by. And when they hit the fog bank over France, we went all ways but the right way. When the war ended May , I was assigned to the 505 Para Inf Reg and sent to Berlin Germany until Jan The 507 and 17th was send home and deactivated.

6 D-DAY JUNE D-Day JUNE My name is Howard Huebner; I was a paratrooper in the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment and attached to the 82nd Airborne Division for the D-Day jump A week before we jumped we were sent to an Airport in England which was enclosed by barb wire fence and had guards around it to keep us in and people out. We didn t know where we were going until we had our fighting gear on and about to get into the Airplanes. We knew the area where we supposed to land as we studied it on sand tables and then had to draw it on paper by memoir, but that all faded as our regiment was the last to jump and things had changed on the ground and most of us missed our Drop Zone by miles. We the 507th was supposed to land 15 Miles in land. But I landed 3 or 4 miles from Utah Beach by the little town of Pouppeville. As we were over our Drop Zone there was a plane down burning, later found out it was one of ours. The Flack was hitting the Plane and everything from the ground was coming our way looked like Fourth of July. When I hit the ground I was about 200 yards from a house where the Germans were staying. I could hear them yelling muck schnell toot sweet Americanos. They started there motorcycles up and went in land as I was only about 100 feet from water which the Germans had flooded and if they had went that way they would have ended up on Utah beach. troop, they started and we finished but it took a lot of lives around 500 fellows died there for about 1/4 to 1/2 miles of road which was flooded on both sides as most of Normandy was flooded. It took the Germans 4 years to flood and 6 months to drain. The 507th last battle was at Vindefontaine, it was a morning attack on the village we cleared the Germans out and then waited to be relieved and sent back to England after 33 days of fighting without any replacements. The 507th went in with about 2000 men and came out with about 800. My company, C Co. had around 75 of us left out of about 230 men. We the 507th had the worst drop of all Paratroopers on D-Day. Why? I guess because we were the last ones and the fellows before us had stirred the bees up (Germans). I was in the 507 Parachute Infantry Regiment C Co. 1st battalion attached to the 82nd Airborne Division for D-Day June 6, After D-Day the 507 was assigned to the 17th Airborne Division. When the war ended I was put into the 505 Parachute Inf. Reg. of the 82nd again and sent to Berlin Germany for occupation duty. I served in the Army P aratroops from 1943 to 1946 when discharged. I was 21 yrs old when we jumped into Normandy. I fought with some of 101st Airborne fellows that day and D-Day afternoon, we took about 75 prisoners down to Utah Beach. I stayed on the Beach that night and the next day I took off looking for my Co. When I did, they were on the way to the la Fiere causeway. We relieved the 505th Para. Inf. there and Gen. Gavin gave my Co. Commander Bob Rae orders to take the causeway. We did June 9, 1944, with the 325 Glider

7 D-DAY JUNE :32 AM D-Day JUNE :32 AM When I hit the ground in Normandy, I looked at my watch, England time it was 2:32 AM. in the morning of June 6th I cut myself out of my chute, the first thing I heard was some Germans hollering in German mucksnell toot sweet Americanos. I landed about 1000 yard from a French Farm house that the Germans were housed in and about 200 ft. from a River that the Germans had dammed up and flooded the area. If I would have landed in the water, I may not be here today as I can t swim. I crawled to the edge of the flooded area along side of a tree to get my bearings I knew I was in the wrong area a long way from 15 Miles in land. About ½ hour later someone came toward me from the direction I had landed in. By the morning light I could see his helmet and knew it was an American. We latter hooked with some fellows of the 101st. They had about 100 Prisoners and we helped them take down them down toward the beach the same road that the Tanks came up on. To me it seemed that it was only about 1 or 2 Miles to the Beach. We gave our German friends a front row seat right on the Beach in a barbed wire encloser we digged up for them, as there was a lot of that laying around. It was something to look over the water and see all the ships it looked like a bunch of corks in the water. The equipment that had already been put ashore was awesome. One German complained about being on the Beach and being shelled by there own men. I told him you S.O.B. started it and now your going to get your belly full of it. It was 2 or 3 days later that I found some of C Co. The beach was called Utah Beach.

8 NORMANDY, JUNE NORMANDY, JUNE I am a Paratrooper. When I hit the ground in Normandy, I looked at my watch, England time, it was 2:32 A.M. June I cut myself out of my chute. The first thing I heard was shooting and Germans hollering Muckschnell toot sweet Americanos. I landed about a block from a farm house the Germans used for barracks and about 200 Feet from flooded area that covered most of the area. If I had landed in the water I may not be here today as I can t swim. (A lot of Paratroopers drowned because of the flooded area) I got to the edge of the flooded area by some trees to figure out where I was. I knew I was in the wrong place. We were supposed to jump 15 Miles inland. I waited about ½ hour, then I saw some one coming from the direction I landed in. With the moon light I could see his helmet and knew it was an American. We later hooked up with about four fellows from our plane. with Ammunition and a German 88 shell hit it. It was the loudest noise I have ever heard. I stayed on the Beach that night and left the next morning to find my Unit. The next day I found my unit C Co. 507th Parachute Infantry 82nd Airborne Division. Getting ready to go across the Laf Fiere Causeway June 9th By the way, the name of the Beach was called Utah. When daylight came, we came upon some 101st 506th Paratroopers. We had secured the area and the little town of Pouperville. An American Tank came up the road from the Beach Invasion area about noon and all was well. We gathered the wounded and dead and had about prisoners, which we marched down the road the Tank came up on. It seemed like 2 3 miles to the Beach. We gave our friends the best seat in the house, right on the Beach enclosed in there own barbwire fence. It was something to look out and see all the equipment coming ashore and the Ships in the water. It looked like a bunch of crooks in the water. One German complained because we were being shelled by the Germans. He said we may be killed. I said to him you so and so started this years ago and now your going to get your belly full of it. He was a German Officer, I asked him where he learned English. He said he went to College in New York. I can remember a Truck coming up on the Beach looded

9 D-DAY DROPZONE D-DAY DROPZONE I am a Paratrooper. When I hit the ground in Normandy, I looked at my watch, England time, it was 2:32 A.M. June I cut myself out of my chute. The first thing I heard was shooting and Germans hollering Muckschnell toot sweet Americanos. I landed about a block from a farm house the Germans used for barracks and about 200 Feet from flooded area where that covered of This is the area Howardmost Huebner the area. was If I supposed had landed in the water I may to land on June not be here today as I can t swim. (A lot of Paratroopers drowned because of the flooded area) I got to the edge of the flooded area by some trees to figure out where I was. I knew I was in the wrong place. We were supposed to jump 15 Miles inland. I waited about ½ hour, then I saw some one coming from the direction I landed in. With the moon light I could see his helmet and knew it was an American. We later hooked up with about four fellows from our plane. When daylight came, we came upon some 101st 506th Paratroopers. We had secured the area and the little town of Pouperville. An American Tank came up the road from the Beach Invasion area about noon and all was well. We gathered the wounded and dead and had about prisoners, which we marched down the road the Tank came up on. It seemed like 2 3 miles to the Beach. We gave our friends the best seat in the house, right on the Beach enclosed in there own barbwire fence. It was something to look out and see all the equipment coming ashore and the Ships in the water. It looked like a bunch of crooks in the water. One German complained because we were being shelled by the Germans. He said we may be killed. I said to him you so and so started this years ago and now your going to get your belly full of it. He was a German Officer, I asked him where he learned English. He said he went to College in New York. I can remember a Truck coming up on the Beach looded Pouperville. This is were Howard Huebner landed on June

10 UTAH BEACH, JUNE 1944 UTAH BEACH, JUNE This photo was taken on Utah Beach June These are German Prisoners captured by 506th of the 101st Airborne Division. I, Howard Huebner, landed in the area and fought with them. I am standing at the head of the prisoners.

11 IN NORMANDY, JUNE 1944 IN NORMANDY, JUNE 1944 One day long ago in 1944 in Normandy, France, we the 507th C Co. Parachute Infantry Regiment were moving up to the front line to relieve some soldiers for the evening, it was getting dusk. While moving toward the front line I remember going up a lane lined with German Black Bicycles. The Germans used these to get to the front lines and transportation. We came to a road and went down the road a ways and then followed a Hedge row into a field. I was the last fellow in the column and Sgt. Brothers was ahead of me. As we walked along I heard some noise behind me. When I turned it was a German Soldier with gun held above his head as both hands. I turned and told Brother: Look who is behind me. He said shoot so and so, I said no and took his gun, emptied it and through it in the brush and frisk him. Later I had to take him back to the Battalion H.Q. By then it was dark. What ever happened to him, I don t know. was Ro Bonell. We live about 10 Miles apart in Michigan, him in Hemlock and me in Saginaw. We had to leave for Camp on October 15th and pheasant season opened on that day we opened it the 14th. Got our limit and went into Hemlock, about 3 Miles away and got some Gas. The owner asks us if War started, I said why he said it sounded like it. I said we just had open Bird season early as we have to go back to Camp in the morning. Gas was rationed at the time, he filled my tank and said thanks for everything you fellows are doing for us, we owe you a lot more. When I got back to the road, a motorcycle went by me. I heard some shots and then he came back again and passed me. I heard more shots and then nothing. They must have got him. I couldn t tell who or what it was other then it sounded like a motorcycle. I was taught to aim and fire on the rifle range in Nebraska I shot a 98 out of a possible hundred Bull Eyes and another fellow shot 99. We both got three day pass to Denver Colorado for our achievement. When I got back to the Company, a Lieutenant came over to me and told me to go to B Co. area and take over the machine gun on the front, which was set up a German Foxhole. The American was hit in the face by a piece of shrapnel and his face was wide open from skull to neck in the other corner was a dead German. The American was a friend of mine, we went home to Michigan on furlough in October of I stood watch that night guarding our live and dead troops, American and German. The Americans name

12 THE CHANCES YOU TAKE THE CHANCES YOU TAKE While moving up to the Lafiere Causeway, we had passed by an orchard and took a break along a hedge row. I was sitting on the side of the row, which made a good seat I thought. I heart noting and saw noting but I sure got stung on the rear. Weather by accident or choice, a stray bullet tore up my pants and went under my butt and out the other side. The fellow that was sitting about 8 foot from me heard it go past him. I jumped up and dropped my pants, no blood, just a pair of shot up pants. I often wondered what would of happened if that bullet would of hit me in the hip, but I guess the Good Lord was with me that day as He has been since and hope He always will be.

13 THE LAFIERE CAUSEWAY THE LAFIERE CAUSEWAY The Lafiere Causeway in Normandy where the Parachute Drop takes place on June That site is a Historical site as Iron Mike was put up by the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment for defending the causeway and keeping the Germans from coming across for two days. There is a lot to be said about the causeway. There is a movie out on it (D-Day Down to Earth return of the 507th). Yes the 505th was there, but the story goes on. The big push to control the Causeway and take and keep it open for the Americans to cross came because of the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment. The 505th was pulled back and the 507th took over. The night before the attack June 8th 1944, about 8 of us from the 507th waded across the swamp, as it was called by the French people. We went up into German Territory to see what armament they had. We could hear the Germans talking on one side of the hedge row and we were on the other. We were only there to survey what they had. The next morning our Company Commander Capt. Robert Rea got orders from General Gavin the 82nd Airborne Commander to take the Bridge and causeway. The 505th had knocked two Tanks out on the Causeway, we had a little cover for a few feet and then nothing but sure luck and the good Lord with us that made it across. It was running and firing. When you see you buddies lying there and you can t help them, but we were trained to kill or be killed and that s what took us across the Causeway, Guts and determination. The Bridge and Causeway cost about 500 lives to take. A half Mile of Road, the Lafier Causeway. The cost was high in lives. It was one of four roads from Utah Beach to high ground to bring in supplies and Troops. It was a major Road to take. We, the Paratroopers of the 101st and 82nd Divisions, did not have any replacements for the 33 days we fought in Normandy. And the food we ate, we had to find or get from the French people. We learned to live off the land. The movie D-Day Down to Earth, returning of the 507th tells all. The fellows in the movie were there and interviewed by professionals that made the movie. Several have died since the movie started two years ago. They are Rae Horn and Carson Smith. I am in the movie the first time I have said anything about the Lafier Causeway, as it brings back some bad Memories and horrible sights.

14 A FELLOW SOLDIER SOLDIER I WILL I NEVER WILL NEVER FORGET FORGET While in the United States Army as a Paratrooper stationed in Alliance, Nebraska with the 507 Parachute Infantry Regiment and having spent two weeks in the Black Hilles of South Dakota near deadwood. When we returned to camp we were all given a two week furlough in October of I lived Saginaw Michigan. I took the train from Nebraska to Detroit, Michigan. While I was waiting for a Buss to Saginaw, I met another Paratrooper, Reinold Bonnell from Hemlock, Michigan. We travelled home together and had some good on our leave, we had to leave to go back the 15th of October, which is pheasant season in Michigan. Well, Ron and I opened the season on the 14th. We only took two birds apiece our limit. When we got back to camp Alliance, Nebraska, we were told to pack our gear and get ready to move out. Which took several weeks then we headed for New York. I managed to see New York from the Empire State Building. We had to take the Ferry across the Hudson River. One of our buddies lived in the Bronx where we spent time. While going across the Atlantic, my friend Ron or Red as we called him, told me his Girlfriend gave him a wrist watch and that if he got killed and I found him, I should take it and if I lived to send it back to her. We landed in Ireland and we were stationed at port rush, Ireland. We spent Christmas there. I cut a branch off a tree and hung tin foil from cigarette packages on it tin cans and you name it. It didn t look to bad but it was Christmas. When we left Ireland, we went to Nottingham, England, where we trained and stayed until D-Day June The day we all looked forward to we knew we were there for a reason and that is what we trained for. We both made the jump but I didn t see Ron until the 15th Day of June, a day I will never forget. We were moving up to take the front over from another Company, I was the last fellow in the squad and Company. I heard a noise behind me and turned around and saw a German Soldier with his hands and arms up. I took the gun, emptied it and threw it in the Hedge Row which is full of bush. I then had to take the German Prisoner back to battalion Headquarters. When I got back to the Company, they told me to go over to B Company and take over the machine gun. I said Ron is there machine gunner why can t he? ( I was machine gunner also) I was from Co C going into Co B. When I got there, there were set the machine gun outside of this German dug foxhole approx. 8 foot long and four foot deep. Ron was in one corner, a piece of shrapnel had hit him in the face and tore it open from skull to his throat. I tried to take the watch off but I couldn t. I crossed his arms and said God Bless you. In the other corner was a dead German soldier. That night I will never forget stayed there guarding the front line and live Americans as they slept and dead Americans and dead Germans.

15 WHY DID I DO THIS? WHY DID I DO THIS? Why did I do this? Only for the love of my country, my buddies and friends of the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment in WW2. After we returned from Normandy in July of 1944, I was made Corporal and we had to take care of Business of sending Personal things home of the fellows that were killed, and send Personal things to the fellows that were in the Hospitals, and take care of our Equipment. We then were send to the English middle lands and over England, west of London. There we were placed into the 17th Airborne Division, which has just came over to England. We trained there and made a practice jump. It was a gusty, windy day and I thought I was going to make a good landing when a gust of wind caught me and threw me up and my chute hit the ground. Four moths later I left the Hospital after three bones healed in my right leg. The 507th Parachute Regiment had been through Battle of the Bulge and stationed at Calon, France. How I got to France I don t know and don t even have a clue. When I caught up with them, they were ready to jump across the Rhine River into Germany. I was ready to go and the Company Commander told me I couldn t go, as I had just come back from the Hospital. He told me what to do with the mail and other things as I was (going) to be the Acting Company Commander. Well, that s what he thought. I asked our Company Jeep Driver when the Motor pool was going to leave. I told him when they get ready, let me know as wanted to go along with them. He said only one fellow to a Vehicle. I said I will be by the Woods with my Gear when you come out and I was waiting. I told another fellow that had come back from the Hospital, to do what I was told to do by our Company Commander. As the story goes when were down the road about 50 miles or so, we stopped to take a break. When the Motor Pool Officer saw me he flipped and wanted to catch up and I wasn t about to walk back so he said OK. The next morning when we woke up, the sky was full of C47 cargo Planes and Gliders heading for Germany. We crossed the Rhine River on a Pontoon Bridge that our Engineers hat put. The next day the Jeep and I caught up with our Company. Well, when the Company Commander saw me he couldn t believe it. He said: Huebner, you so and so, your going to get a General Court Marshall. I spouted back and said do you have to do, I trained with these fellows, I fought with these fellows and I will die with these fellows. That was that and we went on doing what we were trained to do, fight for our Country. The war ended in Essen, Germany for us and I was send to the 505th Parachute Infantry of the 832nd Airborne Division, and send to Berlin for occupation Duty. I was made Special Staff Sergeant with out pay. I had to wear the stripes. Howard Huebner in German Officer Uniform, taken in 1945 in Berlin Germany.

16 GERMANY 1945 GERMANY 1945 Howard Huebner, taken in 1945 in Germany.

17 ON MY WAY HOME ON MY WAY HOME This picture was taken at an Evacuation Camp in December 1945 or January The camp was Camp Top Hat, which was probably in Antwerp Belgium. and Howard Huebner was on his way home to the States. It was a big port with lots of big cranes as I remember.

18 ATER THE WAR AFTER THE WAR After the war was over there in Europe and life on to Florida. The 507th Parachute Regiment and the 17th Airborne Division was sent back home to the United States. I Howard Huebner was send to the 505th Parachute Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division and was sent to Berlin, Germany on Occupation duty. I was made actining Staf Sargent in the Quartermaster Department or supply Sargent. Please tell the people in La Bonneville that they will never be forgotten by one American man and lady, Howard and Betty Huebner and the Good Lord be with them always. I am so proud of what I have done for them. I was discharged in January of 1946 and went home to Saginaw, Michigan. I was in the used car business for 5 years and then went onto the Saginaw Police Department for years, and then went into the Saginaw Public School system as head Carpenter for 42 Schools. I retired in 1988 after 12 years with the School System. The wife and I have travelled and have been in all but one Province in Canada and all but one state in the United States. I have not been in Oregon as yet. We have travelled to France three times and Belgium and Holland and England. The wife Betty and I have 2 children, Pamela and Roger and four Grandchildren, and we all love in Florida. We moved to Florida 1995 to stay for good as our Family is here. We had a nice home in Saginaw and a Cottage in Michigan, about 189 Miles from our home. The Cottage was on a Lake and pretty setting and clean, clear water. We miss it but as life goes you have to give things up sometimes that you love dearly. And with me my Family comes first. So after all that I have done in life and seen. One thing that I have enjoyed the most is being with Friends of the time during the war my soldier buddies and the people that I have met in Normandy, France. All I can say is that they are so gracious to see soldiers that were there during the Liberation of their country. And I can say I was one of the fellows and darn proud to have been part of it.

19 REUNION REUNION Atlanta 1999, Airborne Group Awards Festivities. Col. Edson C. Roff (left) and Howard Huebner (right). Col. Roff was our Regiment Commander.

20 507TH MONUMENT 507TH MONUMENT A picture of Howard Huebner and his wife Betty at the 506th Monument in Ampreville France, dedicated in 2002 by the Troopers of the 507th that are left.

21 RETURNING 2004 RETURNING 2004 Magneville June

22 RETURNING 2004 RETURNING 2004 Magneville June

23 RETURNING 2004 RETURNING 2004 Dedicating a Monument in La-Bonneville France, June 2004 for all Airborne Troopers of D-Day.