Posted: 11/6/07
WWII veteran Earl Wagner:
ëI was one of the lucky onesí
By Charlie Warner
Argus Editor
"I was one of the lucky ones. I was able to survive, while many brave men died," reflected Earl Wagner of Caledonia. Wagner was 25 years old in 1942 when Uncle Sam "invited" him to join the U.S. Army. Wagner possessed two talents, which he feels kept him, for the most part, out of harmís way during the two-plus years he served in Europe.
Wagner was part of the D-Day invasion during World War II. He was part of the 6th Engineers Special Brigade, which provided amphibious support at Omaha Beach, as the first Allied surge met the Nazi resistance.
"I could play saxophone, and I could type," Wagner explained. "Because I was a musician, I got to be in the company band at Ft. Francis, Wyoming when I first entered the service. My commanding officer wanted to keep me around, so he made me the company clerk. I worked in my fatherís insurance business before I was drafted, and learned to write up claims. I was promoted to a sergeant major and became a battalion clerk."
Because he was very organized, and quickly learned "the Army way," Wagner became a very important cog in the 6th Engineers Special Brigade, which played a important role in the D-Day invasion. As battalion clerk, he was responsible for making sure all the supplies were in place and that the scores of amphibious vehicles, known as "ducks" were in tip-top condition.
Wagner, four generals, 500 nurses, and as many troops as the El De France liner could hold, left the U.S., bound for Scotland, and the massive buildup to the D-Day invasion. During the trip "across the pond," the El De France encountered German submarines. "Our liner was faster than the subs, and we were able to out-run them," Wagner remembered.
The 6th Engineers Special Brigade was stationed in southern England near Toruquay. "This was the resort region of England, similar to our Miami Beach. There were golf courses and even palm trees. When I told people after the war I saw palm trees in England, they really gave me some crazy looks."
Allied troops were stationed all over England, preparing for the invasion. Wagnerís group spent much of their time preparing the ducks. And the Germans tried to make things as miserable as possible, with relentless bombing runs.
"The buzz bombs really got your attention," Wagner noted. "They sounded like outboard motors. As long as you could hear that motor sound, you were all right. But once the motor stopped, you took cover immediately."
After all the preparation, Wagner and company knew the invasion was about to get underway the end of May, 1944. All of the stockpiled supplies, ammo, gas and oil, were loaded into the transport ships. When the ducks and the troops were loaded up, "we knew it was time."
Wagner was part of a quartermaster battalion, that transported troops and supplies from the ships to the Normandy shores using the ducks. The ducks had to be fitted with snorkel tubes to prevent water from getting into the engines through the exhaust pipes. The seas were so rough that at times the entire duck would be submerged.
"There was a large drop-off between where the ships dropped off the troops and the beach. There was no way to know that drop-off was there until our troops were suddenly floundering in the water in full packs. We had to rescue many men with the ducks. The Brits had to pay for their own equipment and packs, and many refused to unbuckle their gear. Quite a few men drowned before they could even get to the beach."
Once the beachhead was secured, Wagnerís brigade transported all the supplies from the ships to Omaha Beach for the big push to drive the Germans out of France.
"There was still quite a bit of gunfire going on when we started setting up on the beach," Wagner said. "There were land mines all over the place, dead bodies everywhere. Iíll never forget one dead soldier I came upon. He was lying face down in the sand, his backpack partially open, and a photo of his young wife and child sticking out of one of the pockets. That young wife and child would never see this young soldier again," he said softly, wiping back tears.
The ducks were also used to save downed Air Corps personnel.
"We used to hear the rumble of the Flying Fortresses, as they made their way back across the English Channel following bombing missions in France. They would fly so low over the beach the ground shook. Many had taken direct hits and attempted to limp back to the airfields in England. Sometimes the planes were shot up so badly, the crew would have to bail out before the plane crashed. We would pick the crew up out of the water with our ducks."
Wagner had brushes with several famous generals. While preparing for the D-Day invasion, Wagner was part of the briefings conducted by General Eisenhower and his staff.
After the beachhead had been secured, and the Allies started pushing the Germans away from the coast, General Rommel wanted to counter attack the Allied flank with his tank division. He was in the final stages of preparing for the strike when Hitler called it off. Soon after, the Allied battleships arrived on the scene and started lobbing shells in on Rommelís tank division.
"We could hear the shells whizzing overhead," Wagner said. "The ships were several miles off shore and Rommel was about 10 miles inland. That shelling took out many of Rommelís tanks."
The 6th Engineers Special Brigade supplied ammo, gas, and oil to General Patton, as he pushed through France. When the famous general liberated Paris, the 6th Engineers Special Brigade followed and continued to supply the massive push to rid France, and later Belgium of the Nazis.
Wagner was in Belgium on May 8, 1945 when Germany officially surrendered.
"For more than a year, we had the Germans on the run. But no one really knew when they would surrender. I spent time in Belgium processing papers and reviewing troop records. Many of the men who had fought in Europe were being sent to the South Pacific. I had enough points that I didnít have to go. But my commanding officer tried to talk me into it. He promised they would make me a commissioned officer if I would agree to re-up. I told them no. I just wanted to go home. Iíd seen enough."
Wagner just about didnít make it home, however. On the journey back across the Atlantic the victory ship he was riding ran into a violent storm that almost ripped the ship apart.
"We nearly sank. They were welding down in the hold, trying to keep the ship from breaking up. That was by far the worst storm I experienced."
Wagner was discharged at Ft. McCoy, Wisc. and returned to Caledonia to work in the insurance business with his father. But that wasnít the last he would hear from Uncle Sam.
"I was in the office one day when an Army recruiter came in and said he wanted to talk to me. I told him I had served my country in Europe. He told me he was instructed to offer me a commission to become an officer if I would re-enlist." As with the first offer, Wagner said he had had enough of war, and declined the offer.
"I was lucky I had worked with my father before I was drafted. Because I knew how to type, make reports, and draw up policies, I was offered certain duties that kept me from carrying a rifle. I could have been handed a gun and been cannon fodder."
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