Edward  A. PETERS 

"Captain Ed "Frosty" Peters"

Field where the captain was shot down by a sniper

CEMTERY TEMPORARY of Blosville N°--

Story of Cemetery Temporary 

Map of Normandy American Cemetery

 Born in Maryland, Edward grew up in a family with a brother and two sisters.

After his studies he works in the Civilian Conservation Corps (Institute that allows young people to get a job).
He joined the US Army and the Reserve Official’s Training Corps in 1942, returning as Second Lieutenant in the army.
He married in October 1942, his wife gave birth to a son Edward Jr in 1943.
Edward volunteers for the airborne troops and gets his Jump Wings, returns to 511^th P.I.R. where he trains at Camp Mc Call in North Carolina.

At the end of December 1943 he was transferred to 506^th P.I.R. and joined the 101^st Airborne Division in England.
It is located around Ramsbury and Littlecote Manor where the Regimental Headquarters Company is located.

Littlecote Manor

After the first few days of adapting to his new environment, Edward was introduced to the program; flight training, tactical training of small units, fitness …
At the end of May, the different units move closer to their respective airfields on their staging areas.
The troops are trained on their objectives on sand models.

Aéroport  Uppotery

On the evening of June 5 the men are ready to embark from the airport of Uppotery, the men of the 1^st and 2^nd battalion and the RHQ of the 506^th will be transported by the C-47 of the 439^th TCG in serials 5 and 6 with the objective of the Drop Zone C located near Sainte-Marie-du-Mont.

After the crossing of the Channel, the armada of C-47 flies over the Cotentin and the serials 5 and 6 are dropped, the majority of the General Staff is dropped so grouped near the Holdy.
Early this afternoon on 6 June, Edward led some aggressive patrols in contact with the Germans. After neutralizing German machine gun nests while continuing his progression, Edward is hit by a German sniper’s shot and falls fatally hit as he prepares to attack a position again.
The body of the Captain arrived at the temporary cemetery in Hiesville on June 9, and it was this date that was placed on his burial certificate, since the personnel of the graves had not been aware of the place and date of his death.
For this reason, there was confusion between the actual date of death and the date of registration.
On July 4, 1944 his remains were buried in the temporary cemetery of Blosville before his final transfer to Colleville-sur-mer

RHQ Command Post in Culloville

 

 
 

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.