EXERCISE SOUTHERN COMFORT 65th

Southern France 2009

EXERCISE SOUTHERN COMFORT

AUGUST 2009

Ex Southern Comfort was to incorporate several aspects of the hobby for the team attending the 65th Dragoon anniversary, re-enacting was only a part of it and perhaps we shall leave that part to last. Many pics were taken on this deployment both general happy snaps and Living History, to report on the trip those happy snaps we took during the tour will be used and there after a short report on the campaign and our units part in it will be posted up using a few living history and original pictures.

We had a programme to work to, but knew like all events such as this it can only be used as a guide as things change along the way and timings slip. We allowed ourselves enough time in country to have a last day of touring the beaches to give us a wider appreciation of the operation.

We flew out of course and collected our hirer car in Nice; we arrived in France at around 2115 hours, collected the car and made our way to our first RV just outside Le Muy via auto route 8.

"Team Geronimo" wait in the departure lounge at Luton, this would be the first ever flight for Possum

On arrival at the RV the team geared up ready for pick up and transportation into the field. The team would spend the next 4 day in the kit.

For this deployment no weapons were used by the team, we would represent a medical detachment from Battalion Headquarters, attached to Headquarters Company of the largest of the French groups who were representing the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion

The team move to the next RV point in a short wheel base Jimmy, here we met our guide who would
lead us on foot through the hills and vineyards to the Assembly point.

After several hours walking lead by Bruno with only wild Boars for company we arrived at our
assembly point, the Chateau Valbourges. In August 1944 this was used by the 517th Regimental
Combat Team as an aid station to treat jump injuries before being transferred to the Regimental CP
and Aid Station at Ste Roseline.

Here at the edge of the vineyard and Drop Zone "A" we managed to get a few hours sleep

At first light, which is bloody early in the Med, we rose to the sound of rooters in the distance, already it was warm, but the very early hours had been quite cool. Looking over I could see Possum and Stretch had moved closer together to share some body heat, after which they became quite inseparable during the next few days.

We slowly got our gear together and prepared to move out.

Drop Zone "A" even in August 44 these vineyards were around, held in position with wire, these
destroyed many Gliders.

The transport we would later use was both Allied and Axis

On the track a wide variety of military vehicles were parked up, including a DUKW, not something
you normally see in the field.

After plenty of cups of black Coffee and cake (Not what we would of course call Breakfast and not what gets us started in the morning, but none the less welcomed) we moved up to the house, a large grand affair, looking almost derelict, but we were assured its lived in! Here we had unit pictures taken (Hope to get a few sent through as we did not take any here).

After, we were introduced to other 509ers from Paris. Their unit coordinator Stephan asked if we wanted to operate alone or be attached to his outfit. We were more than glad to attach ourselves to his group and wearing the H for HQ on the back of our helmets we were incorporated into the units HQ Company as unit medics. This was the start of 3 days of attachment to this French group and the start of a lasting friendship which will hopefully see this group work with us in England Next year.

We moved out shortly afterwards and headed to the river, it was getting hotter by the minute.

The MO and his medics move out with the Demolition platoon.

In the trees close to the LZ parts of a glider could still be seen. The many years it has been there
has caused the tree to crow around the parts of the gliders frame, an awesome site.

Everyone got their feet wet on the river crossing.

The walk in the sun was hard work, too hard for some it would seem as already elements of the mixed units had thrown in the towel even before reaching the Assembly area the night before, however one could not help but be impressed with the serving age of many of the French group we were attached to.

We tabbed several miles across country before hitting a main route which took us into the little town of Trans -en-Provence, here we were met by the locales who welcomed the troops with food and wine. The vehicle convoy met us here for forward vehicle movement to Le Mittan.

While in the village many took advantage of the fast flowing river to bath before the next phase of the march.

We stayed in the village for what must of been a couple of hours before moving out via Le Motte on the transport to Le Mitan and the British Drop Zone and the Headquarters of the First Airborne Task Force. We were unable to stay long in Le Mitan due to the amount of vehicles we had, but finally we stopped at the Memorial just outside the village were we again rested up.

The final phase of the march saw us patrolling into Le Muy to simulate the liberation.

We mustered in an assembly area outside the town to await the Armour and soft skin vehicles. Once the Armour was in place we moved into the main town Square. The medical team from the FAAA were tasked to secure the area around the Sherman and to ensure it did not squash too many members of the public!

In the town square we were met by many American veterans , mostly from the 517th Regimental Combat Team but also a few from the 551st

Lee, Stretch, Tom, Possum and Steve with possibly the smallest Paratrooper ever to take to
the sky's in WWII, Leo P Dean

The first chance we had to meet the British Veterans was on the morning of the 15th when all Veterans mustered at the Memorial at the entrance to Le Muy. Here in extreme heat a service of remembrance was conducted and flowers laid.

Reenactors were made very welcome and after the service many of us got to talk to both the veterans from the States and the United Kingdom.

After the memorial service it was back to Camp Uncle Sam, on the way we looked around the town of Le Muy, it was very easy to find the locations seen in the many war time pictures.

At the camp we were told that our parent outfit were heading down to the river to swim, we decided to use the valuable down time to gear up and head into the hills for a TEWT (Tactical Exercise Without Troops) to cover the 509th Parachute Infantry Combat Teams part in the attack on Le Muy

Before heading for the hills and the 509th areas, Team Geronimo moved to Le Motte a small town famous for being the first village to be liberated by the Airborne Taskforce and where so many well known period pictures were taken.

Probably one of the most recognised pictures of the operation. Here 517th Troopers pose on the steps of the local church. Tom, Mike, Steve and Possum recreate that scene 65 years later

This poor quality picture shows the local girls giving wine and bread to the many tired 517th Paratroopers who have liberated their town.

65 years later we enjoy the fruits of their efforts and sacrifices, here team Geronimo relax outside a cafe in the Village square.

After time to relax, we mounted up in our air-conditioned automobile and headed to le Mitan.

Here was a fine memorial to the allied troops who landed in this area and where the First Airborne Taskforce established its first headquarters.

The memorial is quite something, very rustic and home made looking, giving it quite a personal feel to the erection of this tribute, the two Waco glider frames flanking the memorial is amazing.

The hamlet of Le Mitan has not changed much, although the location of the Clearing Station is at first hard to find.

The Main Action of the 509th is of the greatest interest to the FAAA, The Battle for Le Muy.

The location of this town makes it the operations Ste Mere Eglise and had to be taken to secure success. Although the 509th played a crucial part in its taking, it has to be said in reality it was a combined effort from the 509th, the 550th Glider Infantry and the handful of British Paratroopers already in parts of the town that eventually saw the defeat of the German garrison.

But is was the part played by A company and Battalion Headquarters that is of interest to Team Geronimo and the TEWT I conducted centred on their actions on the 16th of August 1944.

The team go over the action and can be seen here on the mortar position where 4 of the Battalions 81mm Mortars were deployed along with the 60mm Mortars drawn from the 3 platoons of A company

Close to the Battalion Headquarters Command post Mike and Steve contemplate the reality of fighting in the heat

Possum looks out over the valley towards the bridge over the river Argens, The Battalion CP is to the right of the Bridge on top of the cliff.

Team Geronimo in the Battalion Command post, 65years later to the day.

The tour I had devised a few years prior to this group trip now took us back into the 517th area and to the still visible foxholes not far from Ste Rosline. This is where troops in defence of the 517th Combat Teams assembly area dug in on the first night. This location is in fact not known to many.

The last days of the commemorations in and around Le Muy saw us doing more marching through Towns and villages culminating in a final march through Le Muy and an evening in Draguignan. A long day and night before breaking camp and leaving our hosts to hit the beaches of the French Riviera the following day.

Originally the Garrison Bakery

This Bridge just outside Le muy was taken by the elements of British Independant Parachute Brigade

The German Bakery

Team Geronimo meet up again with the 517th Veterans

On to yet another Village!

The final parade through the town of Le Muy

All that marching about is really hot work in the height of Summer in Southern France

The last day came around all too quick and after parting company with our friends in the French 509th Group, who we had spent the week with, we said a final farewell to Bruno our friend and host.

Bruno had worked so hard to make this event the success it was for us and our thanks were sincere and for all of us a little emotional. However soon we were mounting up and heading for town in our hire car, the air con pumping out lovely cool air, god knows what it was like outside, but the Sun was out as usual and the locals were again not wearing much. We looked forward to getting to the Beach!

Before heading out of town towards St Tropez and Sainte-Maxime we visit the super market opposite the Liberation museum, the cheapest store in town and we stocked up on food and drink for our final leg of the journey which would take us from Ste Maxime, North up the coast through the sea-bourne invasion areas along the beaches to wards Nice.

This meant we were unable due to time restraints to be able to visit the 3rd Infantry Divisions areas, which was a pity as this group have done in the past some 3rd ID work. However we did cover quite a bit of the 45th "Thunderbird" Divisions area at our start point and the 36th "Texas" Divisions assault beaches at Saint- Raphael-Frejus before hooking slightly inland to follow the 509th later campaign route.

With a late evening flight we had quite a bit of time to see what we wanted to see and to help, Bruno had given us the heads up of where to find things in Nice.