Harrison C. Summers
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Harrison C. Summers (July 12, 1918–August 1983) was a paratrooper during World War II who fought with the 1st Battalion, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division on D-Day.
A staff sergeant at the time, he landed as part of the night drop during Operation Chicago early on D-Day. His unit took the town of Saint-Germain-de-Varreville, near Exit 4 off Utah Beach. He, along with about 15 men, was ordered to take a group of buildings nearby marked "XYZ" on the map. The buildings turned out to be the barracks for 100 or more German troops.
Summers led the attack, charging inside with his Thompson submachine gun. He assumed the others would follow, but they did not. He proceeded on, first single-handedly then with Private Camien's help, through each of the buildings, cleaning them out. Five hours later, the position was clear, and he was credited with over 30 kills.
For his efforts that day, Summers was later nominated for the Medal of Honor, but was given the Distinguished Service Cross instead. He also received a field promotion to lieutenant. Summers was at one point briefly mentioned to have participated in "Cole's Charge" according to an unlockable in Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30.
WWII historian Stephen Ambrose described him this way: "Summers is a legend with American paratroopers ..., the Sergeant York of World War II. His story has too much John Wayne/Hollywood in it to be believed, except that more than 10 men saw and reported his exploits."
Summers also saw combat in Holland and Belgium later in the war.
Summers was born in Catawba, West Virginia. In civilian life, Summers worked in the coal mines in Rivesville, West Virginia. A highway bridge there is named in his honor. He died of lung cancer in 1983. Friends attempted to get the Medal of Honor awarded after his death, but the effort failed.
[edit] Dramatizations
- Brothers In Arms: Road to Hill 30, in which the character Sergeant Matt Baker is modelled off Summers and XYZ, as well as Purple Heart Lane/Cole's Charge.
[edit] References
- Cross-Channel Attack an official U.S. Military History
- D-Day June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II, Stephen Ambrose, Simon & Schuster, 1994, ISBN 0-684-80137-X
