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Supplied to me by Thurman. Thanks!
SEABEE NEWS SERVICE REPORT - SEPT. 1944
HELPS UNIT ESCAPE GERMAN AMBUSH
WHEN A NAVY RECONNAISSANCE PARTY OF 40 OFFICERS AND MEN WERE AMBUSHED OUTSIDE OF CHERBOURG BY GERMAN INFANTRY AND TANKS, A LONE SEABEE COVERING THEIR FLANK KEPT OPEN A PATH WHICH ENABLED THE PARTY TO ESCAPE.
AN ACCOUNT OF THE EPISODE GIVEN BY LT. C.E. STOCKDALE, CEC, USNR, EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF A CONSTRUCTION BATTALION IN FRANCE, MADE CLEAR THAT THE HEROISM OF THE SEABEE, CARL E. SMITHSON, SF1C, OF DOYLINE ALABAMA, PLAYED A LARGE PART IN PREVENTING THE PARTY'S COMPLETE EXTERMINATION.
THE NAVY CONVOY, SAID LT STOCKDALE, WAS MADE UP OF THE 40 OFFICERS AND MEN AND FIFTEEN VEHICLES. IT WAS ABOUT SIX MILES IN ADVANCE OF THE AMERICAN LINES, TRAVELING EAST ON A HIGHWAY LEADING TO THE TOWN OF DOL, WHEN IT WAS ATTACKED BY THE GERMANS. A MEMBER OF THE FRENCH ARMY OF RESISTANCE WHO MADE CONTACT WITH THE AMERICANS SAID THE ENEMY HAD BETWEEN 500 AND 900 HEAVILY ARMED MEN AS WELL AS TANKS.
THE NAVY MEN DEPLOYED AND RETURED FIRE. PATIES WERE SENT TO PROTECT THE NORTH AND SOUTH FLANKS, SMITHSON OCCUPIED THE MOST SOUTHERLY POSITION ON THE SOUTH FLANK....A SPOT DRAWING HEAVY ENEMY FIRE. UNABLE TO ELIMINATE THE SEABEE, THE GERMANS COULD NOT TURN HIS FLANK, A MANEUVER THAT WOULD HAVE ENQABLED THEM TO CUT OFF THE LINE OF RETREAT WHICH LATER PERMITTED THE SURVIVORS TO REACH SAFETY.
SMITHSON HELD HIS GROUND UNTIL LIGHT U.S. TANKS AND COMBAT ENGINEERS CAME TO THE RESCUE. CONTINUING TO COVER THE WITHDRAWL OF OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PARTY HE WAS AMONG THE LAST TO MAKE HIS RETREAT.
HE HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED FOR AN APPROPRIATE AWARD.
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