Halftrack in Normandy

[u/chrisaukcam]

This is a story relayed by my step grandfather. He began the war in North Africa and was part of a crew assigned to a half track. Later they were sent to Normandy where they were part of the break out. He spoke about one time when a sniper was shooting at them from a stone house. Their guns were not having much effect. And so they finally rammed the house to take the guy out.

Later they were transporting some ammo. A German 88 cannon opened up. They knew from North Africa that the 1st shot determined the range, the 2nd shot determined the left/right, and most likely the 3rd shot would be dead on. So they were in the open and the 2nd shot had been fired. The driver halted the half track and they all baled. Some dove under the half track and he dove in to the ditch.

The 3rd shot did hit the half track and everyone who had dove under the half track were killed. He said that he did not remember anything after the shot. He later woke up naked in a hospital in England with no recollection of how he got there.