"You should get a 20-minute red light to stand up and get your equipment. We didn’t get anything but a bell." (Interview)

Carl D. Beck

Carl Beck during interview War: World War II, 1939-1946; Korean War, 1950-1955 Branch: Army Unit: H Company, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division Service Location: United States; France; Holland; Belgium; Germany; also: United States; Europe; Saudi Arabia; Iran Highest Rank: Master Sergeant; Master Sergeant Place of Birth: Avondale, MO

When his plane was diverted by anti-aircraft fire in the early morning darkness of June 6, paratrooper Carl Beck found himself 12 miles from his original drop zone in Normandy. After several days of playing hide and seek with German troops, Beck found some friendly French peasants, who reunited him with American troops. His second drop, into Holland in September, proved more successful.