US AIRBORNE

Many thanks to Joe Cicchinelli for having agree and taken the time to answer my many questions during our meeting and thanks to Patrick Brion and Dominique Potier who arranged this meeting..

Joseph Mario Cicchinelli was born on August 27, 1923 in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. His parents were immigrants from Italy. His father had arrived in the United States in 1909 and his mother in 1916. The family had 7 children.
In 1932 the family moved to Ohio in Massillon. 

"Life was not easy for us. The country was recovering from the Great Depression of the 30s. Despite their limited means, my parents always made sure our education and what we wanted for nothing."

Shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Joe decided to volunteer for the army.

"I wanted to become a mechanic in the Air Force. But I failed the aptitude tests. I was paid in the infantry.
July 42, I received an instruction at Camp Wolters, Texas. That was the beginning of my passion for boxing. I took 3 months of instruction at Wolters. We talked more and more airborne and challenge, I decided to get involved in this elite corps."

At the end of September 1942, Joe arrived at Fort Benning, Georgia where he would follow the course to become a paratrooper.

“The training was very intense. During 4 weeks, we've learned to parachute from a tower which was specially designed for this purpose. This should give us a sight of what a jump from a plane. The hardest part was the 5 jumps from a C-47. From that moment, you become paratroopers. I do not remember the date of the 1st jump. It must be October 42. But, the 3rd jump, I remember wondering what I was doing there. After the 3rd jump, I got more worried.”

Joe was licensed to be a paratrooper in October 1942. In November the same year was created the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion (PIB) Joe would join in. On December 11, 1942, the battalion left Fort Benning to Camp Patrick Henry,in Newport News, Virginia.
On 27 December, the men boarded on the USS Joseph T Dicram moving towards the south.

“Before boarding, we had to remove all our insignia that could identify us as paratroopers. It was very hard because we had worked hard to get our wings. Our convoy of 11 boats took over the South. I remember the seasickness Our convoy was also attacked by German U-boat that sank 2 ships. All the men heard the torpedo explode."

In January 1943, the battalion arrived in the Canal Zone of Panama. Having landed in Balboa, the men were sent to Fort Kobbe. Once tHere, the 551st PIB was back on training.

"I remember that during training in techniques for fighting the bayonets, the instructor told us to remove the blades that we keep ships in its scabbard. During this training, a lot of type is slightly wounded. We also changed the course of obstacles that we find too easy for us. "
The training will harden more.
"I remember that we tested a lot of equipment to Panama, including a dagger with a punch. I brought home in August 1943 while on leave. He has not served in Europe. "

The battalion also went on maneuvers in the jungle of Rio Hato for two weeks.
On May 13, 1943, the 551st PIB was alerted for an operation on Martinique, which was under the French control. The Allies were afraid the Vichy government agreed to host a base for the U-Boot.

"I remember that my company," A ", was to jump on the airfield of the island. We all felt that D-Day was approaching. One morning we received orders to equip us in battle dress and we were taken by truck to Balboa. "

Finally, this operation was canceled. The men of the 551st PIB received a well deserved rest. On August 20, 1943, the battalion sailed again in Balboa, towards San Francisco. Three days later the 551st PIB was sent to North Carolina at Camp Mackall, September 3, 1943.
During the last two weeks of October and during November 1943, the 551st PIB jumped 5 times from gliders and also from aircraft and gliders.
In October 1943 the battalion was living big changes because Colonel Joerg left the command for Lieutenant Colonel Graves.
Lt.Col. Graves was a very tough man. On February 16, 1944 was a very sad day for the men of 551st, Lt. Col.Graves chose this time to make the battalion a jump night near Camp Mackall. The DZ was located between two lakes near the town of Hoffman.

"The pilot of C-47 assigned to this mission had virtually no experience. My company would jump near the Broad Acres Lake. Have received had lifejackets unlike other companies. I remember that the light has turned red to warn us to prepare to jump off shortly after. Evidence that the pilots did not know exactly where they were. During this jump 8 paratroopers were killed, drowned in the lake. I have been lucky to land in an orchard. "
During this period at Camp Mackall, Joe married Viola Ickes, on March 14, 1944 at Bennetville, South Carolina.

Joe and Viola Ickes. Photo taken in March 1944.

At the end of March 1944, Lieutenant Colonel Graves left the battalion. He was not missed. Colonel Joerg was reallocated to the delight of the men.
On April 2, 1944, the 551st PIB embarked on the Abraham Lincoln at the port of Hampton Roads in Norfolk. During 3 weeks of travel, the convoy was attacked and 14 boats were damaged. On May 12, 1944, the battalion landed in Oran to be led towards Merz-El-Khebir. After a few days, the battalion sailed again for Naples, where it arrived on May 23, 1944. Then, direction to the Detroit of Messina, Sicily.

"We arrived in Trapani where we planted our tents and resumed training. I remember especially a forced march as we carried no water and little food."

After 4 weeks, the 551st was sent to Rome. On August 12, 1944, the 551st men were taken on the Montalto airfield, northern Rome. There, they got information on their operation in the South of France.

"This is the morning of August 15, 1944 we learned the exact location of the DZ. After the briefing we were served a meal, our morale was good. I remember that some of us were palm trees painted on each side of the helmet as a souvenir of the Panama Canal. Strangely, I do not remember that my family wore. "
At 3.30pm, Joseph Cicchinelli climbed aboard his C-47 towards the DZ A located 800 meters south of La Motte.
"I jumped around 6.10pm, I was the 3rd man stick. The jump went well and I have not lost equipment that I carry. After landing, I got rid of my parachute, I gave the rockets that I was carrying the bazooka team and I headed to the staging area. One of my friends who had to carry the gun was wounded during the landing. I carried his gun for a while. After heading to cover the road near the DZ, someone replaced me with a machine gun and started my work as a scout.
With my lieutenant and another guy, we went on patrol to Draguignan. We returned to the city without any problem, no Germans. The Lieutenant ordered me to return to Captain Dalton to report the situation. I ran 5 km to our lines alone through enemy territory. Needless to say I was not reassured at all! "
On 16 August, Colonel Joerg gave the order to enter the city. The Company A was leading and of course, Joe, was ahead the company.
"I remember very well that once entered the city, I found a French. I asked where was the Germans? He showed me a large house, the Villa Gladys. They approached the house without encountering care. My friend, Don Thompson said: "Let's take the bastard" They entered the building was smashed and a door. Inside, there was a group of German officers who were very surprised to see us! We learned later, but we had captured the first German general throughout the Western Front, General Bieringer. I remember there was on his desk a camera that I took and outside a Nazi flag that I took too. I have the gift of the flag in 1985 Mayor of the city. They searched the building and found in a cellar bags full of money French and Germans and alcohol. With Sergeant Thopson and Ed Schultz, we walked down the street from the city aboard a van and me and my boyfriend Hook were distributed to all residents! Were were greeted as heroes. It was unbelievable. "
Then, the 551st PIB was going to Cannes. Joe Cicchinelli led a reconnaissance mission. The city was taken on August 25 44. The next town was Nice.
"The welcome in Nice was incredible. Already in Cannes we were greeted warmly, but this time it was madness. "
On September 2, 1944, a patrol was sent to Monaco, Joe was part of it. On September 4, 1944, the 551st was sent in the Var. The men could take some little rest. Then they joined the 509th PIR in the Maritime Alps. The company occupied the town of Isola.
"On 19 October, I went on patrol with 7 other men. We approached a small chapel on the heights of Isola when an artillery shell fell on the building. We quickly lay on the ground. As I rose, I saw a few inches from me a big wooden rosary ejected from the chapel. I recovered and sent home. In 1996, I returned to the citizens of Isola. He is currently at the neck of the statue of the Blessed Virgin. "
It was a very stressful situation for Joe and his comrades because their positions were continually harassed by the firing of mortars and guns.
"During this period in Isola, we received permission to get to Nice. "
On December 8, Joe and his comrades were sent to Reims and December 18 they heard the news of the German attack in the Ardennes.
"We learned of the German attack in Belgium on the night of December 18. We were told to prepare to move quickly, the situation was very tense. We distributed ammunition and grenades and combat rations. Then came the wait."

The next day at 14:00, the men boarded on trucks to get to Werbomont in Belgium. They arrived during the night of 20^th to 21^st December 1944. On 25 December the 551st was under orders of the 82nd Airborne Division. They were ordered to launch a raid on Noirefontaine.
"When we learned about the mission, many of us thought it was suicide. Plunge into the enemy lines was one thing but in return was another. "
But the mission was accomplished, the men returned with the prisoners. General Gavin came in person to congratulate them. The 82nd Airborne was designated to lead a counter attack on January 3, 1945 with the support of the 551st and 517th. The objective of the 551st was to take Sol Mé, Hèrispehé and Dairomont.
"I will never forget this day of January 3. The snow was thick and made our progress difficult. We have received orders to cross a meadow to take a position in the wood that was over a field. We traveled around half of the field when the Germans opened fire. I was slightly wounded in the knee. "
Despite the firing, they continued to advance and reached their goals. The latest was the capture of Dairomont. As the advance man, Joe was the head of his company. Again, in the open field, the Germans opened fire.
"There was even a German tank hidden near a farm and began to send us a shell. Sgt Thompson joins me when a burst of machine gun passed between us injuring my knee. We ran up a small stream where we jumped to shelter us. Then I continued my progression. "
While advancing under the firing, Joe reached a road. The unit continued to move on.
"I remember all that snow covered with blood of my comrades. That vision still haunts me today. Captain Dalton was injured. "
Joe saved his life and after having made it safe for him at an aid station, Joe returned to the attack. They spent the night there, facing the Germans, without food and totally cold. The 551st was west of St Jacques. On January 4, 1945, the Company Joe was ordered to eliminate the gunmen who, right from Company B, prevent him from advancing.
"I remember that the situation was difficult for us. We had to attack enemy positions with fixed bayonets. I was so afraid I thought vomit. We shouted to give us courage. We fell on the Germans like mad devils leaving them no chance. After the attack, I remember having removed my bayonet and passing between my legs to remove the blood that was it. Breathless, I tried to catch my breath and my spirits. The night was falling. "
After taking the town on January 5, 45, Company A was placed in reserve. On 6 January, the 551st PIB would be moving to a new target:Rochelinval. Joe was ordered by Lieutenant Durkee to remain in the woods with the wounded men waiting for the hospital porters and then join the battalion.

"I told him that we were in enemy territory and that the medics would be very hard to find us, but the lieutenant asked me to shut up and running order."
With an other man, Larry Poston, Joe remained therefore waiting. After several hours, they heard some noise. But instead of the porters, they saw Germans soldiers pasing through. The small group was not identified right there. It was after when Larry Poston returned from his recognition he was accompaniying the Germans. Joe and Larry were separated from the others. They were led into captivity.
"I remember we went through a German village. We were among a group of airmen. They were hated by the population. Civilians have thrown stones and beat us with sticks. Arrived at the prison camp, I was placed in a cell all alone I really suffered from this situation. I thought that at any moment the Germans were going to execute me. "
Then he was questioned by a lieutenant who spoke English and, finally, he joined his friend Larry in a cell. They were also interviewed separately. A few days later they were moved into a building the Germans used as a communication station.
"At this moment, our gardiens was an Austrian. He spoke a little Italian. I knew he wanted to desert to get to American troops. He had been forcibly conscripted into the German army. We hatched a plan of escape for the night. But the Austrian was discovered and he committed suicide. "

The next morning, they boarded on a non covered truck, and after a dreadful journey aboard a train, they arrived after 4 days in Stalag 4B near Dresden. Joe and Larry were locked up with prisoners in an English camp.

"We have often thought of escape us but we were terribly debilitated dogs and we would very quickly recaptured. We were very badly fed our daily diet consisted of a few tea leaves and sometimes some beans. "

"These are Russians who liberated the camp. Free, one of our first objective was to find food. Once out of camp we progressed westward. "
They arrived in Leipzig. It was there they learned that the war was over, it was May 8, 1945. Finally, still with Larry, Joe embarked on a boat to cross the Atlantic and reach Boston.
"Once landed, I immediately phoned John who told me that Dad was a little girl of 7 ½ months, Paulette Jean. Poly was born December 10, 1944 but the announcement never came to me. I returned to Massillon, Ohio in July 1945. I entered the house quietly. I opened the door of my room and I'm sitting at the end of the bed. John woke up. Seeing me, she thought she was dreaming. I took the little hand of my daughter. Jean began to cry. "

Jean, Joe and their daughter Pauly.

The services of the army told Joe the 551st PIB was disabled and his new assignment was in the 82nd Airborne Division. Joseph Cicchinelli was finally discharged on October 5, 1945. The war had changed him dramatically. Sometimes he would take his car and drive aimlessly for 2 or 3 hours. The snow in the winter was a terrible reminder scene from the past. Joe followed several therapies. He also served as a volunteer at a psychiatric assistance to veterans of the Vietnam War.
As a leaving, Joe had several odd jobs and became a factor.
Joe participated and still participates in meetings of the former 551st PIB. He loves going back to Belgium and southern France. 

"I often suffered from lack of recognition of people of my country. For them, it was our job and we had paid for him there. On my first return to Europe I was pleasantly surprised that this sentiment was not shared by the Belgian and French citizens. I could never thank enough my French and Belgian friends for their kindness. "

Anecdotally, Joe spent the whole war as a Private First Class. In 1948, when he received the Bronze Medal he found out he got to the rank of Corporal.

Joe Cicchinelli andIwhen we met at Tank in Town (Mons) in 2008.