The Fightings on Kloosterdreef.
Northern part of Eindhoven.
The 506th F-company was involved in the elimination of two Germanm 88
mm guns
(see map below: Red line is Kloosterdreef)
AGerman crew from an 88 mm gun surrenders. Just a few moments before that gun shot a hole in a house nearby on Kloosterdreef in Eindhoven.
Bill
Galbraith (l) was hiding in a doorway that was inset about three feet.
While he was thinking that the Germans couldn't possilbly hit him with
a gun the 88 mm gun hit the house above and blew out the whole front
of it.
After Bill was hit twice by the machine gun he was seriously wounded
and crawled down the street into the direction of the church as
Piet Klompemaker opened his door and dragged him inside. Other paratrooperspara's
involved in this action were Major Horton, Lt. Santasiero and Robert
Perdue.
(Form the book "Hell's Highway" van George E.Koskimaki pages 111,112,114)
Above: Robert Perdue in Best,together with Peter van de Wal, showing the booklet he wrote for his family so they would know what he experienced during WWII. Peter made the cover and translated into Dutch..
On
may 3rd, 2002
Robert visited Margraten US War cemetary in Margraten (Netherlands)
On September 23rd, 1944 Robert ( 19 years of age) was wounded in action
during the fightings in Brabant (A Dutch Province). That same day his
platoon commandar Ltn. RUSSELL HALL was killed in action.
This was the first time Robert visited his gravesite. A very emotional
moment in his life.
"I had to do this" he said to me."Now my story comes to
an end. However I wil never forget him and all the others who paid the
ultimate price to bring freedom back in Europe.
I feels like completingh my story. From now on I will be able to go on
with other things in my life. I'm very glad I had this opportunity to
pay them this visit and show my respect."
It looked like of the years between 1944 and 2002 were vanished for a moment.
I asked him if it was okay if I made photos because I could imagine that is was a very intimate momen for him which I didn't want to disturb in any way . Robert's answer: "It's okay. You can do with it what ever you want to": As if he wanted to say: Keep on telling the story. It's important to keep doing that."
Right: A part of the wall shows Hell's Highway (Operation Market Garden) including Son, the village were the dropzones were. That's were Robert jumped.
KIA Sept.22, 1944.
KIA Okt. 9, .1944.
