George Jackson, 326th Airborne Engineering Battalion – Page 4 – WWII ENGINEERS

Guest · 2010-12-27T15:12:46Z

UPDATE: 6 part interview with George: Thank you for creating this forum. I found it when I was searching for more information the 326th. This came about after I shared a long conversation about WWII with a man who I had known for the past 2 years, George Jackson from Landingville, PA. George started going to my dad's church back then and we shared a nice handshake and greeting when I'd be there on a visit from out of town. However, it wasn't until the day after Thanksgiving, 2010, that George's visit with my dad resulted in me learning more about his time in the war. George was talking about the post war, and I thought he was referring to a time after Korea, but when he corrected me and said he was one of the Battered Bastards, my jaw hit the floor. George told me he was drafted to be an engineer. He went through basic training and then on to school where he built and the disassembled bridges. He said that aggravated him, tearing down what he just built, so he volunteered to go Airborne. He was accepted and made it through with no problems. He was assigned to the 101st Airborne, 326th AEB and sent to England. While in England, he trained to make combat jumps into Europe. However, he ended up as a replacement, rather than a 1st wave soldier. He was slated to enter the war in Holland. Instead of jumping out of a C47, he and his buddies were assigned to a glider. He hated the gliders as they were fabric lined and he wouldn't get to actually jump. When I asked him if he landed during Operation Market Garden, he didn't know what I was talking about. They never told him what operation he was in, only that he would land and secure a bridge. He explained that his unit landed in gliders very close to an undamaged bridge and that they were supposed to defend it, but also rig it for explosion, in case the Germans attacked. He remembers seeing British Armor and working with the Brits, but his unit disliked them with their aloof nature and their "mandatory" tea times. They didn't seem like real soldiers to his group but they were told by superiors to keep negative comments about the Brits to themselves, as they were all in the war together, so he did. When the Germans were closing in, he remembers digging a fox-hole just as fast as he could with his bare hands. During his time there, he got his first shots off at the Germans with his M1 Garand. He stated that the M1 Carbine was only used by officers is his unit the whole time during the war. After explaining Market Garden to him and showing him maps, he realized I knew more about the missions than he did but he reiterated, they just told him where to go and what to do and he did it. After Market Garden, his unit transitioned back to France, although he doesn't recall what they did. He does remember partying in Paris, drinking way more than he should have been, when the word came in that they had to leave immediately. His unit was trucked to Bastogne where they were situated on the south side of the city and told to defend the area. He remembers southern Bastogne being flat with German pill boxes but they just dug fox-holes next to the road and told to take out anything that attacked. They each were given 8 rounds (1 clip) of ammunition for their Garand's and 4 grenades. After the weather cleared and the resupply drops started coming in, which were very welcome, his unit was able to get machine guns and bazookas. He recalls helping carry bazooka ammunition between the resupply and their outfit, but when they got to their destination, the guy with the bazooka tossed it aside along the road march, since it was too heavy for him to carry. So, there he was with all this ammo and no bazooka, and ticked off! Anyway, there were other Bazookas. His unit was dug in when the Germans started shelling the center of the city of Bastogne, since they had it dialed in on their artillery. His unit was also shelled but many survived it. However, during the early morning on Dec 25, 1944, a Tiger Tank had made its way between his unit and Bastogne. He recalls being told to man a machine gun, while another man in his unit prepared a Bazooka. The bazooka round bounced off the Tiger, and as the main gun swung in his direction, they ducked and watched as it passed just overhead. Upon impact, shrapnel hit him in the back of the shoulder and medics were immediately on top of him. He said something else took out that tank and he was evacuated away from his unit. The next day, Patton's Army reached his unit first and he was then evacuated back to England. He said that protocol was to carry him on a stretcher, although he was able to walk. During his time back in England, he recuperated and was sent back with his unit that was in mid-Germany by this time. He traveled with them to Berchtesgaden and eventually Austria. It was pretty uneventful during these times and he cannot recall traveling through any specific towns. He does remember seeing Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest and also catching fish at...

Walts Daughter

(@marionjchardgmail-com)

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March 12, 2018 5:06 pm

I need to add this:

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Hello Marion.

I think i found paratrooper !! I see the finish army serial number inside the helmet. The number is 43. So the only paratrooper asn finished by the 43 is Sgt james F. O'Laughlin !!!! Of the C/326 1st Platoon.

I found information about it. Did you have more ?

https://www.fieldsofhonor-database.com/index.php/en/american-war-cemetery-margraten-o/57347-o-laughlin-james-f

And see other photo...

He did Normandy and died at Market garden the 20 september.

Now I search the link with "TORNADO" on the top of the helmet in black paint.

Is it exceptionnel!

Best regards

Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter 'Monday' Poniedzialek
540th Combat Engineer - H&S Company

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vette97

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March 12, 2018 7:00 pm

Sgt james F. O'Laughlin's company, C Company, would have jumped and landed in Market Garden on Sept 17. George Jackson's platoon in B Company came in with the gliders on Sept 18. However, they might have known each other. I still need to have this chat with George.

In addition, Frank Gubbels recently visited Bastogne to take photos and send them to me, in hopes that we can get confirmation of the location where George was during the battle. I'm working on sending that to him via mail.

Exciting times!

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vette97

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September 6, 2019 7:34 am

It's been yet a year since I posted, so I wanted to provide another update on George. He's been quite the celebrity, travelling and giving interviews. He met a group called the Central Pennsylvania WWI Roundtable in Hummelstown PA when he attended the Reading, PA WWII weekend this summer. They asked him to come speak, last night, to a crowd of about 100 people. He recounted many of the stories he shared in my interview with him on YouTube. At the end, he stuck around and shook hands, and signed autographs. And made the front page of the paper in preparation for this event. Props to the folks who helped get George to the event, about 1.5 hours away from his home. What an amazing group of people, enthusiastic about learning the history from our veterans, in person. I made the 2 hour drive to attend and here are a few photos I took at the event.

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Walts Daughter

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September 12, 2019 5:28 am

This is wonderful. I'm sure he felt right at home. How nice to have a warm welcome. Makes me happy that this took place. Keep it going!

Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter 'Monday' Poniedzialek
540th Combat Engineer - H&S Company

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vette97

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September 30, 2019 4:26 pm

It truly is amazing how he's become quite the celebrity. Shortly after this round-table, the local news interviewed him for a short piece on the 6pm news.

https://wnep.com/2019/09/24/75-years-later-wwii-vet-tells-his-story/

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Walts Daughter

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October 2, 2019 8:07 am

Makes me really appreciate that I could make it to two of their reunions in Michigan. Sure miss those days.

Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter 'Monday' Poniedzialek
540th Combat Engineer - H&S Company

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vette97

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October 11, 2020 1:31 pm

I just received word that my friend. and WWII veteran, George V. Jackson, Jr. of Landingville, PA had passed away yesterday, Oct 10, 2020. George was a member of the 101st Airborne and landed in the Netherlands in Operation Market Garden. He was in Bastogne when they were surrounded by the Germans during the Battle of the Bulge. He was wounded in battle from shrapnel from an 88mm round from a Tiger tank. He survived but never shared his story publicly until I asked him about it.

I had known George for many years when we got into a conversation in Nov 2010 and he mentioned he was in WWII. Being a WWII history buff, I was blown away to hear his story. I asked if I could record an interview and he obliged. Folks from this forum helped me draft the questions I asked. I created a YouTube video that got the attention of many historians and George became a celebrity, in his own words. George always thanked me for making that possible, and in one letter he wrote me, stated "Thank you for giving me my life back!" He was struggling after his wife passed away and this was just what he needed to feel alive again. It was his story, I just knew how to share it, and never took any credit. Hearing of his passing is saddening, as I was just thinking about him yesterday. Fortunately, his memory lives on and his sacrifice to our country goes beyond what any of us could fathom. In addition, historian Frank Gubbels (also from this forum) in the Netherlands shared many letters with George and they exchanged a lot of information. I'm eternally thankful that Frank initiated that conversation to reach out to him, not only to hear his story, but also make George feel very special. He was always surprised and amazed that anyone cared about what he did over there. I'm forever grateful to know George and to be able to call him a friend.

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Walts Daughter

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November 30, 2020 9:27 am

I am so sorry to hear this. Sure enjoyed learning about his experiences and seeing all the images. Thank you for letting us know.

Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter 'Monday' Poniedzialek
540th Combat Engineer - H&S Company

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