Gene Metcalfe 82nd A B N W W I I - P O W

[caappy]

Eugene (Gene) Metcalfe, now a Fountain Hills resident, quit school in his senior year in 1942 to join the 82nd Airborne, 508th, 501 Paratroop Infantry Regiment.
On Sept. 17, 1944, Metcalfe was among the first to jump from a C-47 over Groesbeek Heights Holland, about 45 miles behind the enemy line. The area was believed to be free of German troops. Instead, three German anti-aircraft cannon emplacements defended the region. As Metcalfe jumped into a hail of bullets and exploding shells, he watched his plane roll and plummet into the ground.
Metcalfe was listed as killed in action and left for dead by his patrol. Metcalfe lost his hearing when an explosion damaged his eardrum. Shortly after his capture, Heinrich Himmler, the second most powerful man in the Third Reich, interrogated him.
It is only the beginning of what would prove to be eight harrowing months under the thumb of the Nazi High Command. He would witness carnage, mass murder, executions, risk his life to save a wounded fellow paratrooper, suffer extreme deprivation, be used as slave labor and continuously dodge death at the hands of both the German and Allied armed forces.



Sent him 2 photos on 21 Aug and got them back signed 12 Sep.

Mr Gene Metcalfe
13808 N Arrowweed Dr
Fountain Hills, AZ 85268

[admin]

Hi caappy

Thank you for your feedback

Would you have a scan of the picture and envelope you received please?
If so, you are in the run for the $10 gift certificate.

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