January 7, 2008
Harry Summers
Harrison C. Summers (July 12, 1918–August 3, 1983)was a paratrooper during World War II who fought with the 1st Battlallion, 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 “WXYZ” 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, almost single-handedly, 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.
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.”
In civilian life, Summers worked in the coal mines in Rivesville, West Virginia.
Filed under: Heroic dudes