The brass says thank you:
During operation Market Garden the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, commanded by Col. Howard Johnson, fought some
hard battles. The 501 PIR jumped on dropzone-A on the edge of Eerde, a small village just outside Veghel. The objective of
the 501st was to take the bridges over the Zuid-Willemsvaart and the AA river.
Originally, the plan was to hold the bridges for less then a day. That proved to be a mistake. XXX-corps, that had to advance from the
Belgian border all the way up to Arnhem, was stuck at Valkenswaard on the first day. It would take them 2 days, to reach the 501 PIR.
Montgomery, who designed Market Garden, thought German resistance would consist of old men and children. He was wrong.
Germans were retreating from the province of Zeeland, which is located on the coast in the south-west of the Netherlands. These men, on
their way back to Germany, were walking into operation Market Garden.
The Germans were responding quickly and sent trainloads of German fighting groups (Kampfgruppe) by train to Schijndel, Boxtel and Best to
fight against the paratroopers. Pulling in the troops from all across the country. A big force of enemy troops concentrated on the Schijndel area,
and made consecutive attacks against the 501 PIR. Just underneath Eerde, is an area called ‘de Coevering’. At this spot, the Germans cut
Hell’s highway, and made sure that XXX-corps was delayed and couldn’t reach the British airborne troops in Arnhem. All around Veghel, the
Germans were actively attacking Hell’s highway. They saw that this was the weak spot of the highway.
A few days into the operation, the entire 101st Airborne Division was fighting at Veghel, to keep Hell’s Highway clear of enemy troops.
Long and hard battles have been fought, that is why Veghel and Eerde got a special spot in 501 PIR history. Some commanders took the time
to write their thank you letters, to thank the people of Veghel for their support. After the war, many commanders of the 501 PIR came back
to the spot where they had a ‘rendezvous with destiny’. The town of Veghel and Eerde, thanked the 101st Airborne Division by placing
several markers and monuments in their town, hoping people would never forget what the paratroops of the 501st PIR did for the town in 1944.
During operation Market Garden the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, commanded by Col. Howard Johnson, fought some
hard battles. The 501 PIR jumped on dropzone-
Montgomery, who designed Market Garden, thought German resistance would consist of old men and children. He was wrong.
Germans were retreating from the province of Zeeland, which is located on the coast in the south-
The Germans were responding quickly and sent trainloads of German fighting groups (Kampfgruppe) by train to Schijndel, Boxtel and Best to
fight against the paratroopers. Pulling in the troops from all across the country. A big force of enemy troops concentrated on the Schijndel area,
and made consecutive attacks against the 501 PIR. Just underneath Eerde, is an area called ‘de Coevering’. At this spot, the Germans cut
Hell’s highway, and made sure that XXX-
A few days into the operation, the entire 101st Airborne Division was fighting at Veghel, to keep Hell’s Highway clear of enemy troops.
Long and hard battles have been fought, that is why Veghel and Eerde got a special spot in 501 PIR history. Some commanders took the time
to write their thank you letters, to thank the people of Veghel for their support. After the war, many commanders of the 501 PIR came back
to the spot where they had a ‘rendezvous with destiny’. The town of Veghel and Eerde, thanked the 101st Airborne Division by placing
several markers and monuments in their town, hoping people would never forget what the paratroops of the 501st PIR did for the town in 1944.
Photo: The letter Anthony McAuliffe wrote on september 28, 1944. Attached:
McAuliffe (Div-arty), Sink (506 PIR) and Harper (327 GIR) talking in Veghel.
McAuliffe (Div-
Photo: Maxwell Taylor’s letter, dated Oct 4, 1944
Photo: Howard Johnson’s certificate. Made on Oct 6, just
two days before his death on the Island
two days before his death on the Island
Photo: The Geronimo monument in Eerde, remembering the 501 PIR
Photo: The kangaroo monument in Veghel, with behind it
Klondike house, the HQ of the 501st PIR during their time
in Veghel. This monument is erected for the entire division.
Klondike house, the HQ of the 501st PIR during their time
in Veghel. This monument is erected for the entire division.
Photo: Just a few of many 501 PIR men who lost their life during battles
near Veghel. Left to right:
- Carmen Ladner
- Joseph ‘Joe’ Mero
- Francis McKeown
Lest we forget!
near Veghel. Left to right:
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