Benjamin Arthur Joseph STONEY

Source : Bruno Cadeville (Ellen Marchese)

COMPANY

BATTALION

S-2

Easy Company

2^nd Battalion 

CEMETERY TEMPORARY of Blosville N°3508

Map of Normandy American Cemetery

A California native, Benjamin has Indian origins from the “Maidu” Native American people and the “Konkow” tribe. This heritage comes from his mother. Benjamin has 3 brothers and 2 half-brothers.
After 4 years in Middle School, then in High School, he begins his professional life as a keeper. On August 4, 1942, Benjamin decides to join the armed forces, since the entry of the United States into war, he wants to serve his country. He enlists in Los Angeles: after his basic training, he decides to choose a new weapon: the airborne troops. He joins the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment. Longing to belong to an elite unit, Benjamin knows that the enlistment into the paratroopers will make of him an outstanding soldier. He is willing to sacrifice himself, to live a strong discipline, to undergo a physical training which will push him to his limits. On that day of August, when he arrives at Camp Toccoa (Georgia), Benjamin is ready to take up this challenge.
After receiving his pack and his uniform, the training may start, the beginning of a change of life which will make of Benjamin an elite soldier. He joins the Regiment 2nd Battalion and the E Company.

In November, the training ends and only the best are qualified to continue the path to become paratroopers.
In December, the Battalion leaves Toccoa to reach Atlanta, but the Colonel Sink decides to go on foot, so they can beat the world record held by a Japanese unit who walked 150 kilometers (93 miles) in 3 days! Therefore, the men of the 2nd Battalion will join Georgia’s capital town on foot. The soldiers who have distinguished themselves during the training in Toccoa and impressed their officers will achieve this major feat after walking 192 kilometers (119 miles) in 75 hours.
Benjamin and his comrades settle in Fort Benning, the next step in their journey. Despite a discomfort similar to Camp Toccoa’s, they are happy to start their jumps training. This training is spread out over 4 weeks made of 4 phases: Week A: physical preparation ; Week B : learn how to jump from the aircraft (a 10-metre tower), how to land in the ground, to fold the parachute... ; Week C : learning how to jump from the 75-meter towers, canopies’ deflating at touchdown training... ; Week D : 5 real jumps from a C-47, including one at night.
The regiment’s men are exempted from phase A, since their physical preparation is one level above all the other units. During the 4th week, the last jump takes place on December 26, afterwards, Benjamin receives his silver wings and the certificate that makes him a paratrooper.
All the patentees go on a 10-day leave. The return to his family made Benjamin proud.
At the end of January 1943, Benjamin starts a new training phase, the one in urban areas.
On February 20, Benjamin is promoted Sergeant T/5.
In March, the regiment moves to Camp Mackall, a real military base where the men will find a comfort and better life conditions than they had before. The training become more intensive and sophisticated, the jumps are more frequent and take place with rifles and light weapons. The jumps are followed by field operations for 3 days.

From July 5 to 15, the 506th participates to big maneuvers across three States (Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee) where the airborne troops and the troops transported by gliders operate together. In real combat situations, Benjamin achieves three jumps during those days when the extreme combat conditions are present (night marches,...). At the end of these maneuvers, the regiment stops by Camp Breckinridge where they can take showers and other small luxuries.
In early August, transfer to Fort Bragg (North Carolina) where a much more comfortable stay waits for them (headquarters with beds, hot showers...) and a full renewing of their equipment (new outfits, new weapons, pack). It is certain for Benjamin and his brothers in arms that they are now close to an overseas departure. The days are particularly punctuated by shots training, weapons set ups and cleaning.
Mid-August, General Lee who commands the 101st Airborne Division reviews the troops.
On August 22, the men are transferred to Camp Shanks, near New York, a transit camp before the big departure. Benjamin will undergo medical examinations, vaccines...
Then, the big day arrives, the men reach the docks and board the Samaria.
As they leave New York’s Bay, for many of them, the vision of the Statue of Liberty is the last image of their country.
On September 15, the ship docks in Liverpool, then, the following day, the 506th is transferred by train. As for the 2nd Battalion and Benjamin, they settle in the village of Aldbourne until the end of May 1944.
The trainings in the English countryside follow one another: take over specific goals, fields studies, jumps...scenarios that take shape as the time goes by in order to have a perfect control in any situation.
On March 23, Benjamin and his battalion achieve a mass jump in front of Winston Churchill, Eisenhower and Generals Bradley and Taylor. Divisional jumps are going to start, as well as maneuvers reuniting several army corps. It will be the Tiger exercise, in April, in Slapton Sands (Devonshire) which retraces the landing in Utah Beach.

From May 9 to 12, the Eagle exercise is meant to be the rehearsal for the airborne operation on D-Day, and so, to put the units in the real conditions of what they will live. For Benjamin and his unit, the goal is a German battery. They successfully achieve their mission, but the result of this exercise is not at the level expected by the high command.
Some time before the D-Day, within the last days of May, Benjamin is promoted Sergeant Technician 4th Class and is transferred to the battalion’s Intelligence section: the S-2 HQ Company.
Major Nixon used his influence to have Benjamin in this company (Benjamin has an IQ of 147 and this has decided the officer). Despite this change, Benjamin remains close to his comrades from the Easy, many of them are sorry for his departure. He is highly valued, his impressive physique, his aggressiveness as a soldier and his calm and his kindness daily make him a unique comrade, the quiet Indian as his brothers in arms like to call him.
On May 31, the regiment joins Upottery and the airfield where are parked the 9th US Air Force 439th TCG’s C-47 meant to convoy them to their goal: the Drop Zone C, west of Sainte-Marie-du Mont, in Normandy.

Sgt. Stoney with his outfit, 101st Airborne, at Ft. Bragg, NC.
(back row, far right)

Benjamin Stoney (2nd from right) on long march of December '42 from Camp Toccoa to Atlanta.

These last days are focused on studying the targets, the field thanks to Sands Tables, enemy forces, missions...
The assault is scheduled in the evening of June 4, it is announced by the officers during the briefing, but in the evening of June 4, when the paras are ready, the departure order is postponed for 24 hours due to bad weather conditions.
On Monday June 5, the signal is given. Benjamin leaves the hangar to join the tarmac where his C-47 is. He must harness himself with the whole equipment, near 50 kg.
In the early evening, at around 8.45 pm, Benjamin heads towards the door of his aircraft, the C-47 43-15046 in third position in the Serial 12 of the mission Albany, which must carry the 101st Airborne Division. The time on target is 1.20 am.
Benjamin takes place in the C-47, he is in position 4 in the stick. The flight goes smoothly until the approach of the Cotentin west coast. A bank of clouds, then the DCA welcome the formations. 5 series of aircrafts already passed through, and the Germans are on alert. Faced with these difficulties, some pilots get lost and drop the sticks out of their Drop Zone. The 2nd Battalion is dropped about twenty kilometers away from its expected jump zone!
The paras from different units make groups and try to reach their goal. Benjamin and his group begin their march to the south: as they progress, the German forces strongly resist. As the day dawns and Benjamin and his group are near Saint-Martin-de-Varreville, the fights multiply, the progression is complicated and there are the first losses.
In the early afternoon, the taking of the roadway n°2 is effective and the paras wait for the infantrymen of the 4th Infantry Division. In the evening of June 6, Benjamin and the second Battalion reach Culoville and Colonel Sink’s HQ. The battalion’s officer has now a top priority goal: the village of Vierville, on the road to Saint-Côme-du-Mont. He knows that the enemy holds the village since the reconnaissance he made during the day of June 6, and it has become mandatory to take it.
At dawn of June 7, the 506th’s first Battalion’s column attacks the village. The fights are tough and the 506th’s first Battalion enters Vierville at around 8.30 am.
Shortly afterwards, Colonel Sink arrives at the village and welcomes General Taylor for a briefing. The orders of the 101st Commander are to keep going and take Saint-Côme-du-Mont’s crossroads. The 1st Battalion keeps going towards Beaumont.
Benjamin and his brothers in arms from the 2nd Battalion rush towards Angoville-au-Plain in a move towards Vierville. But the Germans had come back to the village after the 1st Battalion’s departure, which they didn’t know.
The 2nd Battalion and part of the Easy Company try to take the village back, the clashes are extremely violent, a real street fight, house after house.
Benjamin is in the column that crosses the intersection at the entrance of the village, a German position with an MG42 is located near them and cuts the column in two. The paratroopers are hidden in the ditches and the hedges alongside the road. Benjamin is located in the second half trapped behind.
Benjamin and his comrades take shelter behind a low wall. He throws a grenade towards the enemy position and loads his Thompson, but it doesn’t work. The German machine gun is fired, and Benjamin is hit in the chest. He is deadly wounded. The paras fight back the Germans, each house will be the scene of intense fighting. After over 30 minutes fighting, the first Germans surrender. The paras take 125 prisoners, the Battalion counts 6 wounded and 1 dead. Benjamin’s body is placed on the side of the road, waiting for the funeral team to take him, then, he is transferred to Hiesville temporary cemetery.

Benjamin will rest in Blosville temporary cemetery before being buried at Colleville-sur-Mer.

101^st 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
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.