LISTEN TO BOWLES
"What about Corporal Bowles’ idea?” Turnbull asks his men. "Tell me what the rest of you want to do.“
Sergeant Niland speaks up. “He's right, Lieutenant. I think it makes more sense to pull back and set up another defensive line.”
Turner considers for a moment. He trusts Sergeant Niland's opinion.“What about the wounded”, he asks.
Corporal Kelly steps forward, “I'll stay here with the wounded and surrender them if I can keep from getting killed.
As does Corporal Bowles, “I talked you into this withdrawal. I'll stay here and cover the rest of the platoon as you fall back.”
Sergeant Niland volunteers as well. “I will stick with Corporal Bowles and provide covering fire.”
Turnbull sees the look in Bob Niland's eyes and knows that this is a better plan with a greater chance of keeping his men alive.
“Ok, then, we'll fall back fifty yards and then set up a new position so you and 8owles can fall back as well.”
A few minutes later, Niland and Bowles are ready. Turnbull and the rest of the platoon start falling back, moving as quickly as they can.
Corporal Bowles and Sergeant Niland cover them with the BAR.
The German paratroopers rush forward at the same time, but stall in the face of Niland's intense machine gun fire.
Then one German tosses a grenade that kills Niland and Bowles.
Turnbull and the other fifteen men fall back and set up a new position, only to see their friends fall. They return fire, but they are too late.
Just then, ten American paratroopers approach them from the south. They are a relief force sent by Lieutenant-Colonel Vandervoort.
“The boss sent us up here to give you guys a hand", says the lead paratrooper.
“Good to see you", Turnbull replies, “but those Germans are hot on our heels.”
One of the men, a Navy officer, speaks up.
"Don't worry Lieutenant, you can count on some help from the United States Navy. I have a radio link with the big guns offshore, "
The naval liaison sends coordinates to Navy ships lying off Utah Beach via a short wave radio. Their "14 inch" guns range up to twenty miles, more than enough to help the Americans at Neuville-Au-Plain.
Ten minutes later, the Germans start their final attack, eager to clear out the last defenders at Neuville and to bring an attack on St. Mere-Eglise.
The American smalls arm fire has ended by now but the German paratroopers, now joined by regular German infantry, move cautiously forward.
The have not gotten far when the Navy opens up. The USS Nevada unloads on the advancing Germans, throwing their lead unit into chaos and confusion.
The explosives are thundering and overwhelming. The German attack disintegrates and the stunned remnants fall back to the north, unable to start any more fights with the Americans on June 6.
