Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Charles H. Neighbor Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Service Unit/Ship: E Company, 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division
- Location of Service: European Theater; Omaha Beach, France
- Highest Rank: Private First Class
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/10223
Charles Neighbor witnessed firsthand the kind of confusion and mechanical failure that afflicted American troops in the deadly first hours of D-Day, June 6, 1944. First, he and his buddies were dropped off at the wrong section of beach. Then, assigned to carry an extra fuel tank for a flamethrower, Neighbor was forced to take over the weapon when his partner was hit in the shoulder soon after disembarking on the beach. Neighbor was unable to light it, and so never once used the weapon on which he had trained for months.
Interview / Recording
Share
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PlayDescription of equipment carried on D-Day 00:09:50.0 - 00:12:15.0
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PlayEvents of the morning of June 6, 1944; taking over a flamethrower after his partner is wounded. 00:17:12.0 - 00:19:23.0
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PlayTrying to make it across the beach; seeing a sergeant near him shot and killed; neutralizing a German pillbox-despite being unable to light his flamethrower. 00:19:29.0 - 00:23:10.0
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PlayAdvancing past the beach, into the hedgerows of Normandy. 00:24:28.0 - 00:28:50.0
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PlayWounded during the fight for St. Lo, D-Day +38 00:47:45.0 - 00:50:01.0
About this Item
Title
- Charles H. Neighbor Collection
Names
- Neighbor, Charles H.
- Bruning, John
- Timeless Media Group
- Collins, Denver
Home State
- Iowa
Headings
- - Neighbor, Charles H.
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- veteran
Service History
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World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Service Unit/Ship: E Company, 116th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division
- Location of Service: European Theater; Omaha Beach, France
- Highest Rank: Private First Class
- Dates of Service: 1943-1945
- Entrance into Service: Drafted
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Video: Digital Betacam [1 item] -- Digitized Copy (collected unknown)
- Video: VHS [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2003-09-23)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/10223
Online Format
- image
- video