US AIRBORNE

Eugene “Gene” Elbert Gilbreath was born on October 13, 1925 in Atlanta, Missouri. Gene had a happy childhood in spite of the great depression. His parents, Francis and Leona Gilbreath owned a farm in the South of Missouri.

“We planted small grain,corn,"row crops" and had both dairy and beef cattle, sheep, hogs, goats, and  chickens.”

In addition in going to school, each morning, the young Gene helped his parents with the farm.

“Plus running a trap line each morning before school.”

“This was done with horses, not mechanized equipment.”

There was only the Weekend left for him to have fun with his friends. Gene also liked to fish and hunt.

It was a family of two children, Gene and his brother, Gerald.

He went to the following schools: Elementary-Maple Grove, Luck and Pleasant Hope Schools, Walnut Grove High School.

Before the war, Gene Gilbreath used to work as a Timekeeper for the Swift & Co of Kansas City, Kansas.

“This department recorded hours worked by individual workers which resulted in accurate remuneration. In l943 all plant workers were paid in cash.  Each Friday I would accompany the paymaster into the plant and recorded the payouts as they occurred.”

On October 27, 1943 he was called up and started on November 17, 1943. After having followed the basic training in Camp Blanding, Florida, he voluntary joined the parachutists at Fort Benning, Georgia.

“To try to be the best and increased pay. My parents were not aware that I had joined the paratroops until home on leave before departing for overseas duty.  They were very concerned as my father was in WWI and was seriously wounded during the St.Maheil battle.”

After he got his parachutist licence, Gene left the United States for England on July 1, 1944. Arrived on July 9, 1944, he joined the HQ Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th PIR, 101st Airborne Division on July 12, 1944. He was Private First Class.

“I went there with a very good friend, Dennis D. Garland with whom I had gone thru basic training and jump school.”

Gene and his friend Dennis D Garland - Washington DC - June, 44

(Dennis will die February 6th, 1945 further to wounds received January 14th, 1945)

“All of the officers and non-coms in the 2nd Bn, 506PIR were good men who deserved and received respect of the troops.”

After having followed a training within its new unit, especially for the use of the Bazooka which he used with Dennis Garland, Gene Gilbreath took part in the Market Garden Operation on September 17, 1944.

“The weather was great, sunny and probably 50 degrees. There was quite a bit of flak after crossing the allied lines on into Zon, Holland”

His jump occurred very well, as for most of the parachutists, Holland was a great training ground. With 13:15 p.m., 506th PIR whole landed in a field and advanced towards its objective: Zone without too much difficulty.

“Our mission was to secure the bridge over the Wilhelmenia Canal and advance to Eindhoven and secure it--then await the arrival of the 30th Corps of the British Army. There is always some fear when you are advancing into an unknown situation, particularly combat. This is a natural reaction.  I never had the feeling of getting killed but more of being wounded to the extent of being a paraplegic or blind.”

Gene had his greater fear under the bombardments of the German mortars. On the other hand, he has a marvelous memory of the Dutchmen. At the end of November, the unit has withdrawn and been sent in France in Mourmelon to have some rest.

“I had one pass into Rheims one weekend.”

But on December 17, his unit is on alert, the Germans have launched their last offensive in the Belgian Ardennes. Only equipped with their weapon and ammunition, the men are not equipped for the winter.

“No, only basic uniform and no overcoat nor overshoes.”

Like most of the men, Gene will suffer from the cold in an uncovered truck despite everything, men remained in good spirit. Arrived to Bastogne, the unit of Gene is sent towards Noville. Gene will be cold and hungry and feel afraid under mortar bombardments and German guns. The 101st will be taken with the trap in and around Bastogne. The Germans encircle the city completely. But on December 26 the General Patton’s tanks break the German lines and make it possible the troops to be supplied. On January 15, 1945, the 506th is sent to the attack to release Noville. During this attack, the destiny will strike Gene. 

“I was wounded early on Jan. l5, l945 by a sniper in the chest.

I heard an extremely loud noise and immediately found myself flat on the street "sucking blood" and realizing I had been shot.  I immediately called for the medics.  I repeated the call at least three times but no one came. Upon realizing that no one was coming I somehow got my Thompson machine gun over my right shoulder and holding my left arm at the elbow managed to get to my feet and limped back approximately 65 yards to where my squad was located.  A Medic gave me a shot of morphine and my squad leader proceeded to help me start walking to the Battalion Aid Station about a mile away.

The last l00ft, approximately I became so weak from loss of blood and shock I could not walk on my own.  He basically had to carry me and put me on a jeep.  This was approximately 9:30am. I woke up about l0:30pm in a field hospital being attended to. As I remember I was there 2 to 3 weeks then sent to a hospital in Paris for further treatment.

It was very serious with radial and ulnas nerve injury, a broken left arm and collar bone.  The bullet entered the centre of my chest and exited out my shoulder after hitting top of my lung.  I spent 8 months in hospitals.”

From Paris, Gene Gilbreath is sent to the military hospital of Manchester, England. Then, he was return to the country for Halloran General Hospital, Staten Island, New York. Then, he was a stay in the Kennedy General Hospital de Memphis, Tennessee.

“Almost immediately after arriving in Memphis I was given a 30 days leave. In hospital, my parents were not able to visit me but I spent the entire month of April, l945, largely with them.”

The last hospital which Gene attended was Welch Convalescent Hospital in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is there that Gene learned and celebrated the end of the war. On September 17, 1945, Gene Gilbreath was discharged. After the war, Eugene Gilbreath taken again of the courses and was graduate of Southwest Missouri State, Springfield, MO.

“I entered college in Feb.'46 and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in Feb.'49.”

Then, Eugene Gilbreath worked like financier and insurer for theGMAC, he moving many once besides but always in the midwest, he took his retirement on May 1, 1979. On August 3, 1946, Gene married Doris, they did not have of child. Gene is always very active like old of the 101st Airborne, he often takes part in the meetings. Of his uniform, there remains to him only the trousers.

“Only the trousers of my paratrooper jump suit. I wore out the jacket in college. In addition to this I still have the winter blouse.”

On the other hand, he returned no memory of the war.

“As I was a hospital patient due to my injuries I did not return with any thing of this type.”

Of the war, he remains to him his decorations.

“Parachute wings, 2 battle stars, 1 invasion arrow and purple heart.”

Since the end of the war, Eugene Gilbreath returned with his wife in 1989 and 1994 to Belgium. The last time that he returned it was on December 16, 2008 in Bastogne, but only.

"I plan to return next August. This will be in the Eerde, Holland area.”

Unfortunately, Doris disappears on October 5, 2005. Since, Gene life alone in his house of Springfield, Missouri. Gene spends his days to

“Reading, working out and usual duties around the house, being single.”

Gene also likes to travel and make boat. Of his War’s experiment, Gene Gilbreath has a memory of his marvelous comrades of engagements.

These two photos were taken during a permission to him, May, 1944.