Page 30 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2017- Online Magazine
P. 30
Troy Jones WWII Hero &
D-Day Survivor
by Jane Bromley
important their stories are told. at Scotland and were loaded
This particular young soldier onto trains. He remembers the
had just turned 20 when his Scottish people were very nice,
battalion was dispatched to the handing them snacks and drinks
beach of Normandy, France. It through the train windows.
was June 6, 1944, D-Day.* After a long trip across England
to Wales, they trained many
Troy had grown up in West months for the invasion.
Texas, but as the war in Europe
heated up, so did the fire of His written account of the
patriotism in his heart. He morning of June 6: “As we
enlisted in 1944. His memoirs attacked the beach, what follows
indicate that he nearly becomes
get to the front. “ a blur. Where we
jumped at every
opportunity to
landed there was
(At) the last second
He was, like most I held my breath; a (sheer) cliff;
inside that cliff
the tide was coming
of the rest of the in and propelled were bunkers.
country, angry There were big
at the Nazis and me forward enough 88 and 50 caliber
eager to show up for my toes to machine guns...
for the fight. “My touch bottom. I My landing craft
very person who serves object was to get dog-paddled my did not get close
our country and puts his overseas as fast as way toward shore. enough and I
Elife on the line on our possible...” After One of GOD’S stepped down
behalf deserves our respect. The volunteering for MIRACLES!” into water over
highest honor belongs to those various outfits, “ my head. I was
who gave the ultimate sacrifice. he finally was wearing a heavy
But there is an exceptional group assigned to one pack, weapon and
who merit our best attempts at that was preparing to move out. other stuff. I darn near drowned.
gratitude. These are the men It was the 487th Port Battalion, (At) the last second I held my
who have witnessed the ugliness Co. C, 5th Engineers Special breath; the tide was coming
of war up close and lived to deal Brigade, 1st Army. in and propelled me forward
with those nightmares for the After six months of training enough for my toes to touch
rest of their lives. bottom. I dog-paddled my way
the day came to load the ship. toward shore. One of GOD’S
Troy Lee Jones holds that grim It was a converted banana boat MIRACLES!” Immediately I saw
but noteworthy distinction. - too small and too old. They a burst of bullets coming my
His particular band of brothers were double-loaded and every way.” Troy dodged them several
is dwindling; not many of his soldier suffered seasickness most times. “When those of us who
comrades survive,* and it is of the grueling seven-day trip were left of my little group got
across the Atlantic. They landed
30 Lubbock Senior Link
