US AIRBORNE

Big thank you with Filip Willems for all help brought, thus it is thanks to him if I have to come little into contact with “Bill”.

Thank you in “Bill” Tingen to have to agree to answer me! Lastly, big thank you with Célia and Virginie for the translations.

William “Bill” Tingen was born in Farmville NC on June 13 1924. He’s the youngest of a family of 4 children (2 brothers and a sister). At the age of 3 years, in full crisis, his dad left the family to go to work in Georgia. They re-examined it never again.

He joined the arm at the age of 18 years, he accepted his convocation between November and December.

He joined the 6th Armored Division in California with the Cook Camp. Then, he was voluntary to join the airborne troops. He left for the school jump Strong Benning in Georgia. Later, he became, voluntary for the 463rd Parachute Field Artillery (PFA.) or he joined the Battery B. 463rd PFA was formed when 456th PFA was divided two battalions. The 456th remained with 82rd AB whereas 463rd PFA remained like independent unit. Later, he will be attached to 101st AB, Bastogne.

"We were what is called an independent unit, we brought supports it with who needed some."

Before his unit splitted up, he was the division of his unit, he was with 82rd AB in Italy. While the troops unloaded in Normandy, he was stationed in a small village not far away from Rome named Lido di Roma.

On August 15, 44, to 4h30, he jumped in the South of France. He was supposed to land normally close to Muy to 15 mile of the coasts. Part of 463rd PFAB lands at the good place but another part lands close to the town of St Tropez. 

"I did not know that we were there, and we did not know that they were over there. It was the disorder during one moment! I remember being lands in a Pine, I were 19 years old at the time."

He went trough by Cannes, Nice and Monte Carlo amongst other things before taking position in the Alps with like objective preventing from reprocessing of Italy. Of his passage in France, Bill reminds the French bread (the rod) which was excellent. He also remembers that he almost died in car accident. He was in a jeep that one of his friend had stolen from MP. They were on a mountain road. They had just drunk. The driver was turned over to discuss, the jeep approached the pit. The driver have time to change the direction towards the mountain or it fell into the ravine. The Jeep made a yaw, they damaged the front suspension. Then, the 463rd was sent in Bastogne. The battalion was attached there to 101st AB. Bill remembers especially that the weather was VERY cold, with snow.

"We did not remain very a long time in Bastogne. One entered the morning of the 17 or December 18 and us sums left the 30 or on December 31. I do not remember of any other city apart from Bastogne. We installed our battery, and we remained there. There was enormously snow. So much that I do not even know if the road which skirted our positions was paved or not. I also remembers the detached house on the left from the road. Us, we were on the right. I do not remember anything more."

At the end of the war, the day of the return, Bill boarded the Queen Mary. He unloaded in New York and paraded on the 5th Avenue.

"At the end of the war, the day of the return, Bill embarked on Queen Mary. It unloaded in New York. It paraded on the 5th Avenue."

While following courses, he worked at Ford. He worked there during 13 years. During these spare times, he built his store and his house. His wife worked in a pharmaceutical company which was called Burroughs Welcome, now Glaxo-Smith-Kline. He had two children, a son and a girl. He has also two small wire which married each one.

"I never returned to Europe after the war. I think of the good and the bad moment. With marvellous people whom I met. I like to work in my garden and will fish. In my soup, I have pepper and tomato seedlings. I have even a vine.”