By Stephen Smoot
Next month, it will be 81 years since the Battle of Normandy. Allied forces ran diversionary operations for months to hide the true landing spot, which they knew Adolf Hitler assumed would be at Calais. Hundreds of thousands of troops from across the United States and the British Empire, as well as units from German-occupied nations, gathered on the island of Great Britain.
Their mission? On June 6, troops landed by sea and air in and around the beaches of Normandy, struggling to gain a foothold on the Continent. From there, they’d roll back the Third Reich and end its existence forever.
On that very date next week, plus the days prior and after, Rick Shockey will return to the Hardy County Library. His mission? To discuss the second book in his series of works about those from the county who gave the ultimate sacrifice during World War II.
The first volume, already available, covers the years between 1941 and Normandy. Volume two, coming out soon, will tell stories of the men who fought in Europe between June 1944 and Victory in Europe Day. The third in the series will describe those lost who served in the Pacific Theater.
Shockey notes that the second book “is four more chapters and 40 pages longer than the last one.” He has two main goals in mind in producing these books, saying “not only is it honoring these soldiers, but also it’s a great way to learn about the war.”
Like the first volume, the second of Hardy’s Heroes focuses on the men who fought. Shockey tells the stories not only of their courageous and vital service, but also of how the men grew up, of their families, friends, school and work experiences.
These stories show over and over again how all-American young men from all-American towns and farms went from a childhood in the mountains and valleys of West Virginia to fearsome fighting in places they may not have known existed before enlisting or being drafted.
Included in the second volume is “my favorite of the whole bunch, Sergeant John Wetzel.”
Shockey told of how he met with surviving close family members, noting that Wetzel’s sister baked him an apple pie.
On the eve of the invasion, Wetzel found himself in uncomfortable and new surroundings. His unit had been reassigned to the 401st Glider Infantry Regiment.
They did not volunteer for the role, but served in it because their country needed them.
According to the unit history of the 101st Airborne Division, the 401st had a mission to link up with and support paratroopers who had landed earlier. The division history stated that “On June 7th, the 401st fought several engagement in an effort to join Colonel Bob Sink’s 506ers march on St. Come-du-Mont. It was during this time that the unit suffered its first casualties.”
A C-47 towed in their glider, cut it loose, and let it fly to earth. Most of the gliders did not end up where planned and troops had to fight their way to their proper positions. As Shockey recounts, Wetzel survived two engagements where the men successfully captured bridges, but fell in the third fight.
The story of John Wetzel and many others in all three volumes, the two printed and the third to come, tell three stories in one. They tell of the men and how they sacrificed, the tremendous communities and families that served as their surroundings growing up, and also other perspectives on one of America’s greatest fights for freedom.
