E Company, 506th PIR “Crossroads” Memorial
Details:
Just below the dike road at the road intersection.
The monument is a black wrought iron star on the frame over the profile of US helmet and rifle. An information plaque is just below the star and another is at the base.
The memorial remembers the combat action of Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) of the morning of October 5, 1944 during Operation Market Garden. One soldier of Easy Company was killed during this action, Corporal William H. "Bud" Dukeman Jr.
The memorial was rebuilt in 2011 after being hit by a car.
The battle of the “Crossroads” is part of the TV series,” Band of Brothers”.
Monument Text:
The text of the upper plaque is written in English and reads:
“Crossroads"
Around half past five on the morning of October 5, 1944, American soldiers of Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) and soldiers of two German companies crossed each other’s paths at this very spot. The German soldiers had crossed the Lower-Rhine river probably to reinforce an attack in the vicinity of Opheusden. A patrol of five Americans were exploring the area when they were caught in the line of fire of the enemy. Although one soldier was seriously wounded, they managed to withdraw to the command post where they reported the incident. A second patrol set off immediately, to fight back the enemy.
The second patrol snuck up on the machine gun which had attacked the first patrol, fired some successful rounds and then returned to their fallback position. Firing from both sides broke loose. Later, the American commander discovered that the enemy was hiding behind a raised dike while his men were in a shallow ditch without any possibility of safe retreat. The best and only option was to attack. At dawn the orders were given to fix bayonets and to wait for the signal to charge.
The attack started when 35 American soldiers ran toward the dike, not realizing that some 150 Germans were waiting behind the embankment. The German company, however, was completely taken by surprise and panicked even though they were attacked by only a relatively small group of Americans. Meanwhile, a second German company crossed the dike toward this unexpected confrontation. Despite this reinforcement, the few Americans managed to hold out.
The Americans won the battle in spite of bitter German resistance. Fifty German soldiers and one American soldier were killed. The American soldier was hit by a shell fragment that pierced his heart.
This soldier was William Heister Dukeman Jr (2-09-1921 - 5-10-1944).
May this symbol remind us of all the soldiers who fought in this battle.
The text of the lower plaque at the base is written in Dutch and English. The English reads:
This monument is dedicated to those who paid the highest price for us to live in freedom.
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
101st Airborne Division
506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division
Wars:
WWII
Battles:
Operation Market Garden
Other images :