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

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   Carl D. Beck
Image of Carl D. Beck
Carl Beck during interview
War: World War, 1939-1945; Korean War, 1950-1953
Branch: Army; 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
Rank: Master Sergeant; Master Sergeant
Place of Birth: MO
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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.

Interview (Video)
»Interview Highlights  (3 clips)
»Complete Interview  (67 min.)
»Transcript
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»D-Day Beyond the Beach
 Video (Interview Excerpts) (3 items)
Re-enlisting after troubles with readjustment. (00:48) Daylight drop into Holland. (03:02) Briefing for his mission in Normandy; bailing out of his plane. (03:14)
  
 
Home » Carl D. Beck
  The Library of Congress  >> American Folklife Center
  October 26, 2011
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