- Benjamin H. Vandervoort
Benjamin Hayes "Vandy" Vandervoort (*
3 March 1917 inGasport ,New York ; †22 November 1990 ) was an Americansoldier with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, who fought inWorld War II . He was twice awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.After his service as a lieutenant in the infantry, he joined the newly established
paratrooper s in the summer of 1940. He became a member of the505th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the82nd Airborne Division , when it was created.Capt. Vandervoort was the S-3 of 505th commander Col.
James M. Gavin when the regiment was dropped over Sicily during theOperation Husky . Later he was made a company commander in the same regiment. After being promoted on 2nd June 1944 to Lieutenant Colonel, he commanded the 2nd Battalion, 505th PIR and led it in theAmerican airborne landings in Normandy and inOperation Market Garden . GeneralMatthew B. Ridgway described Vandervoort one time as "” [...] one of the bravest and toughest battle commanders I ever knew”".Website: http://www.d-day-publishing.be/portrait4.html] InGoronne he was wounded by mortar fire, so that he was unable to take part in the divisions' pursuit to Germany. In 1946 Vandervoort retired from the U.S. Army.After he left the army Vandervoort worked for the CIA.Website: http://us.army.39.45.xooit.com/t154-Colonel-Benjamin-H.-Vandervoort.htm] He also established a family of his own. With his wife Nedra he had two children; a son and a daughter. Vandervoort was portrayed by actor
John Wayne in the movie version ofCornelius Ryan 's history of D-Day, "The Longest Day". The role was actively sought byCharlton Heston but the last-minute decision of John Wayne to take a role in the film prevented Heston from participating.Benjamin Vandervoort died on the
22 November 1990 at the age of 75 years at anursing home from the effects of a fall.Literature
* Michel de Trez: "Col. Ben Vandervoort "Vandy" 0-22715 (Way We Were)", D-Day Publishing, 2004, ISBN 2-9600176-7-6
External links
* [http://users.swing.be/salmriver/LtcolVandervoort505.htm Informations]
* [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE2DD1539F931A15752C1A966958260 Article in the New York Times]
* [PDF] [http://www.carlisle.army.mil/usamhi/DL/docs/32.pdf Briefing Conference - Operation Neptune]
* [http://us.army.39.45.xooit.com/t154-Colonel-Benjamin-H.-Vandervoort.htm Informations on "Vandy"] ("French")ee also
References
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