Louis J. KULP

 

KULP Louis J -
NUMBER OF SERVICE35044108
AGE33 yo
DATE OF BIRTH22 May 1910 - Louisville Comté de Jefferson
ENLISTMENT STATEKENTUCKY
FAMILY

Divorced

Daughter : Thérèse Kulp Cook

Parents : John Franklin Kulp & Louisa Augusta Harley Kulp

Siblings : William J, Jacob C & Paul H

RANKStaff Sergeant
FONCTIONInfantry Man
JOB BEFORE ENLISTEMENTSemiskilled chauffeurs and drivers, bus, taxi, truck, and tractor NE
DATE of ENLISTEMENT30 March 1942  Fort Benjamin Harrison INDIANA
COMPANYCompany F
BATTALION2nd Battalion
REGIMENT 327th Glider Infantry Regiment
DIVISION 101st Airborne Division
DATE OF DEATH12 June 1944

KULP Louis J -

STATUSKIA
PLACE OF DEATHCarentan
CEMETERY TEMPORARY

 

CEMTERY TEMPORARY of  Ste Mère #1 N°3584

blosville

Story of Cemetery Temporary 

 

CEMETERYNORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY of Colleville

Map of Normandy American Cemetery

GRAVE
PlotRowGrave
B1327
DECORATION

Purple Heart

World War II Victory Medal 

Combat Infantryman Badge

Brevet Parachutiste


Photo FDLM

victory medal

combat infantryman badge

combat infantryman badge

 

 

us army div 101 327GlidInfReg
STORY
82nd  Division d’Infanterie

With the reactivation of the 82nd Infantry Division in March 1942, the 327th GIR followed the same movement in summer 1942 at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, at first, as a simple Infantry Regiment.

Then, the concept of an airborne division was created, the 82nd becoming the first airborne division.

Afterwards, it was split to form the 101st Airborne Division. The 327th GIR was rattached to the 101st, as an Airborne Regiment but transported by glider.

101st Division Aéroportée

Most of the men never put a foot in an aircraft and even less in a glider but all knew that, as the war was approaching, they would have to fight for their country.

So, on August 15, 1942, the 327th GIR became a regiment of men transported by glider and rattached to the brand new 101st Airborne.

This regiment was originally made of 2 battalions, then a third battalion from the 401st GIR will join the 327th GIR.

The 327th GIR is commanded by Colonel George S. Wear.

Colonel George S. Wear
Fort Bragg en Caroline du Nord

In autumn 1942, the regiment was sent to Fort Bragg, in North Carolina to start its training with gliders, the CG-4a.

There, conflicts started between the 502nd PIR paratroopers and the men of the 327th GIR. The paras considered themselves as elite troops and the only real Airborne Troop.

Laurinburg Maxton Emblem

The men had their glider training at the Laurinburg-Maxton airbase. The first flights were terrible, the men having to vomit in their helmets, since the little bags were not available yet.

As their training progressed, it seemed obvious that the glider landing was much more dangerous than the paratrooper's one who, in the worse case, broke himself a leg or an arm.

Laurinburg Maxton Army Air Base 26 Feb 1944

During the landing, the glider can strike a tree, a hedge, a fence, it can pitch nose down in the groud and roll ff on the “roof”, injuring or killing the pilots and the crew.

It also must be noted that, in the opposite of the paratroopers, the men of the gliders regiments are not volunteers but men who were in the regiment and who became “Airborne Troops” because their regiment became one.

In spring 1943, the 327th GIR participated to manoeuvers with the rest of the 101st, especially from March 23 to 28 at Camden, in Tennessee.

SS Samaria

In August 1943, the 327th GIR embarked on the SS Samaria towards Liverpool, in England. It arrived on September 15, 1943.

There, it was sent to Camp Raniket, near Reading.

The regiment trained on Horsa gliders which were about 1/3 bigger than the Wacos and coud transport more troops. During winter times, codes and emblems were assigned to the different components of the 101st. The 327th GIR received the clover as an emblem.

Horsa

The 327th GIR participated to two exercizes during the winter time.

In early 1944, it participated to 3 big exercizes, beginning with BEAVER from March 27 to 31, 1944.

Then TIGER where the 327th trained as a landing troop.

And at last, EAGLE which took place from May 9 to 11, 1944 and was a least rehearsal before the landing itself.

In June 1944, the decision of dropping the 101st and the 82nd over Normandy reduced the number of aircrafts available to tow the gliders.

So, the 327th GIR wasn't dropped over Normandy, it landed on Utah Beach with the 4th Infantry Division, on the D-Day.

So, the 3rd Battalion landed on D-Day, in the afternoon and made camp near the beach. In the evening, on D-Day +1, the 1st and 2nd Battalions were gathered near Ste Marie du Mont.

pont du verrou de La Barquette

On June 8, the 3rd Battalion fought near St Côme du Mont. At 8.00 pm, the 327th units moved towards La Barquette's lock bridge to relieve the 506th PIR. There, it controlled the banks alongside the Douve.

On June 9, the 327th GIR moved towards Carentan. At 1.45 am, the Company C crossed the Douve.

At 7.00 am, it passes through the village of Brevands and started a two-days long fight near Carentan, in the southern direction.

At 10.00 pm, on June 10, the 327th GIR attacked near the Vire-Taute canal and the 2nd Battalion took position near a footpath joining the canal to the Douve.

Colonel Joseph H. Harper

On June 10, the commandment of the 327th GIR was taken over by Colonel Joseph H. Harper.

On June 11, the 327th crossed the bridge and advanced into a more forested area but they were stopped by a heavy fire.

In the dawn of June 12, at 5.00 am, the 3rd Battalion attacked again at Bassin-a-Flot, in the North-West.

It was welcomed by a sniper's shots and the flames of a fire in the western end of the village. It happened to be a tarp fire.

At 7.00 am, the company was in the town. Later, while trying to take the hamlet of Montmartin-en-Graignes, at 8km from Carentan, the 327th GIR without the 3rd Battalion, faced a strong resistance. This resistance was made of automatic weapons, mortars and cannons of 88.

Carte 12 juin 44 Montmartin en Graignes

Louis Kulp will die during this battle.

The 327th made junction with elements of the 29th Infantry Division.

They established defensive positions on the hamlet high ground.

On June 13, the 327th is sent alongside a railway and held it until June 14.

On June 15, it is sent to Carentan.

On June 16, the 327th was in line between the 501st and the 502nd PIR.

On June 17, the last real assault of the 327th started.

The goals were limited. It just had to hold on the assault, the advance of the paratroopers regiments.

On July 13, 1944, the 101st was sent back to South Hampton, in England. During the summer, several assaults were scheduled but were cancelled every time. One of these operations was TRANSFIGURE.

div 101

101st AIRBORNE DIVISION - SCREAMING EAGLES

 

Activated/Activé

 Normandy/Normandie

15 Aug 1942  Days of Combat/Jour de Combat  214
   Casualties/Victimes 9 328

Entered Combat/Entré au combat

 
6 Jun1944 D-Day  

Commanding Generals/Commandants généraux

Maj. Gen. William C. Lee (Aug 42 - Mar 44)
Maj. Gen. Maxwell D. Taylor (Mar 44 - Dec 44)
Brig. Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe (Dec 44 - Dec 44)
Maj. Gen. Maxwell D. Taylor (Dec 44 - Sep 45)

Campaigns/Campagnes

Normandy (6 Jun 44 - 24 Jul 44)

Rhineland (15 Sep 44 - 21 Mar 45)
Ardennes-Alsace (16 Dec 44 - 25 Jan 45)
Central Europe (22 Mar 45 - 11 May 45)

   

PLAN DE ROUTE DE LA CAMPAGNE - CAMPAIGN ROUTE MAP

carte campagne europe

DIVISION CHRONICLE


The 101st Airborne arrived in England, 15 September 1943, and received additional training in Berkshire and Wiltshire. On 6 June 1944, the Division was dropped into Normandy behind Utah Beach. Against fierce resistance it took Pouppeville, Vierville, and St. Come du Mont. On the 12th, the stronghold of Carentan fell, and after mopping up and maintaining its positions, the Division returned to England, 13 July, for rest and training. On 17 September 1944, taking part in one of the largest of airborne invasions, the 101st landed in Holland, took Vechel and held the Zon bridge. St. Oedenrode and Eindhoven fell after sharp fighting on the 17th and 18th. Opheusden changed hands in a shifting struggle, but the enemy was finally forced to withdraw, 9 October. After extensive patrols, the Division returned to France, 28 November, for further training. On 18 December, it moved to Belgium to stop the German breakthrough. Moving into Bastogne under the acting command of Brig. Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe, it set up a circular defense and although completely surrounded, refused to surrender on 22 December. Its perimeter held against violent attacks. The 4th Armored Division finally reached the 101st on the 26th and the enemy offensive was blunted. Very heavy fighting continued near Bastogne for the rest of December and January. On 17 January 1945, the Division moved to Drulingen and Pfaffenhoffen in Alsace and engaged in defensive harassing patrols along the Moder River. On 31 January, it crossed the Moder in a three-company raid. After assembling at Mourmelon, France, 26 February 1945, for training, it moved to the Ruhr pocket, 31 March, patrolling and raiding in April and engaging in military government at Rheydt and Munchen-Gladbach. The 101st reached Berchtesgaden by the end of the war and performed occupational duties until inactivation in Germany.

CHRONIQUE DE DIVISION


Le 101st Airborne est arrivé en Angleterre, le 15 septembre 1943, et a reçu une formation supplémentaire dans le Berkshire et le Wiltshire. Le 6 juin 1944, la division est larguée en Normandie derrière Utah Beach. Contre une résistance féroce, il fallut Pouppeville, Vierville et St. Come du Mont. Le 12, le fief de Carentan est tombé, et après avoir nettoyé et maintenu ses positions, la Division est revenue en Angleterre, le 13 juillet, pour se reposer et s'entraîner. Le 17 septembre 1944, participant à l'une des plus grandes invasions aéroportées, la 101st débarque en Hollande, prend Vechel et tient le pont de Zon. St. Oedenrode et Eindhoven sont tombés après des combats acharnés les 17 et 18. Opheusden a changé de mains dans une lutte changeante, mais l'ennemi a finalement été forcé de se retirer, le 9 octobre. Après de longues patrouilles, la Division revint en France le 28 novembre pour suivre une formation complémentaire. Le 18 décembre, il a déménagé en Belgique pour arrêter la percée allemande. Déménagement à Bastogne sous le commandement de Brig. Général Anthony C. McAuliffe, il a mis en place une défense circulaire et bien que complètement encerclé, a refusé de se rendre le 22 décembre. Son périmètre tenu contre les attaques violentes. La 4e division blindée atteignit finalement la 101e le 26 et l'offensive ennemie fut émoussée. De très violents combats ont continué près de Bastogne pour le reste de décembre et janvier. Le 17 janvier 1945, la division s'est déplacée à Drulingen et à Pfaffenhoffen en Alsace et s'est livrée à des patrouilles de harcèlement défensif le long de la rivière Moder. Le 31 janvier, il a traversé le Moder dans un raid de trois compagnies. Après s'être rassemblé à Mourmelon, France, le 26 février 1945, pour s'entraîner, il s'installa dans la poche de la Ruhr, le 31 mars, patrouillant et faisant des raids en avril et s'engageant dans un gouvernement militaire à Rheydt et Munchen-Gladbach. La 101e a atteint Berchtesgaden à la fin de la guerre et a exercé des fonctions professionnelles jusqu'à l'inactivation en Allemagne.
SOURCE INFORMATION & PHOTOArmydivs.squarespace.com
SOURCE INFORMATION & SOURCE PHOTOStéphanie PEPIN - Aad.archives.gov - Usairborne.be   - Carentanlibertygroup.org - 327gir.com - Thérèse Kulp Cook (Fille de Louis)
PROGRAMMEURSHenri, Garrett, Clive, Frédéric & Renaud
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