Bloody Omaha - My Remembrances of That Day by James Robert Copeland Read online

  Bloody Omaha

  My Remembrances of That Day

  James Robert Copeland

  GGA Publishing – 2010

  GGA Publishing

  A Division of GGA Marketing Systems, Inc.

  Michigan, USA

  Copyright © 2010 by Garry M. Graves

  All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

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  Email: [email protected]

  First GGA Publishing Edition—Paperback and eBook versions, December 2010

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  Designed by Garry M. Graves

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  Manufactured in the United States of America

  ISBN: 978-0-9844462-4-7

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  From: James Robert Copeland

  A VERY SPECIAL THANK-YOU TO my loving children: Vicki Copeland Fiedrich, Barbara Copeland Anderson and James Anthony Copeland. Also, my grandchildren, I love you all so much.

  Additionally, I would like to thank Garry M. Graves, my biographer, for thinking my story worthy.

  This book is dedicated to all World War II Army Rangers, living and dead, and to those who followed us.

  From: Garry M. Graves

  A VERY SPECIAL THANK-YOU TO Ranger JR’ Copeland for being the hero he is. His story, like him, is incredible.

  Thanks also to Lynn Towne of the West Chapter Ranger Battalion Association for all her help. And to Linda Graves and Susan Alrawi, who aided in the books editing.

  CONTENTS

  Acknowledgements

  Introduction

  Chapter One

  The Young James Robert Copeland

  Chapter Two

  JR’ Copeland’s Military Induction

  Chapter Three

  JR’s Military Training

  Chapter Four

  JR’ and Rangers head Overseas

  Chapter Five

  D-Day and Bloody Omaha Beach

  Chapter Six

  JR’ Copeland After the War

  Picture Attribution — References

  Introduction

  This is a biography of a World War II hero. Its chronology takes you from his childhood to where he now celebrates his 89th birthday on November 30, 2010.

  James Robert Copeland survived the horrific battle that was Omaha Beach, in the D-Day Invasion of Normandy, France. He lives today in New Hudson, Michigan.

  He was then and will always be a United States Army Ranger. An elite corps of soldiers—extensively trained in combat, warfare and battlefield discipline.

  Ranger Copeland’s personal story has been gathered from several first-hand interview sessions between himself and the biographer, Garry M. Graves.

  Throughout the story the reader will recognize areas where the writer’s discussion or comments have been presented. This in-line style is used in lessening the incommodious effect produced from excessive bracketing or italicization.

  Ranger Copeland invites readers to his blog: www.RangerCopeland.blogspot.com, for further information and your comments.

  Chapter One

  The Young James Robert Copeland

  James Robert Copeland asks everyone he meets—to just call him JR’. But for those who know this simple yet magnanimous individual, they address him as ‘Ranger Copeland.’

  Ranger Copeland (he prefers me to call him JR’) will celebrate his 89th birthday on November 30, 2010. He was twenty years old when he joined the Army. His date of enlistment was December 13th, 1941—but the day he signed up was one day after hearing of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. JR’ is a ‘driven’ kind of person and he was incredibly disturbed about what had happened to his country and what had happened to him. And—he was mad as hell.

  JR’ lives today in celebration of America’s enduring freedom unknowingly gained from efforts as a soldier who crashed the beach of Omaha Red in Normandy, France. Omaha Beach, also known as Bloody Omaha, had the solemn distinction of intense battlefield fighting and single day loss of life on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Omaha Red designates a specific section of Omaha Beach and it was a hot section. JR’ at 22 years old, held the rank of Staff Sergeant commanding sixteen men. He was attached to Company B of the 5th Ranger Infantry Battalion. He is tough as nails.

  Born in Marting, West Virginia, to poor parents who had a long history in the coal mines, JR’ was the last of four children. Living was hard most of the time but he didn’t think about that, he was a happy child who loved his Mom and Dad, older sisters and brother. JR’ remembers occasions of the Copeland family reunions, meeting the many people outside his immediate family; the aunts and uncles, the nieces and nephews, far too many to remember or know personally.

  James Robert Copeland with Chigger “His First Dog” Circa 1929

  “I remember shaking hands with so many family, I got the itch,” he said, folding his arms as if to hold the memories longer. A diminutive smile touched his face indicating he felt at ease . . . comforted by what was surely many faces and experiences of his youth running through his mind.

  “My fathers name was James Anthony Copeland,” he told me. “My mothers name was Jane Ann Adamson,” he continued. The best calculation to the date of marriage of JR’s mother and father would be about 1910. JR’s brother was almost 10 years older than him and the oldest. JR’ was born on November 30, 1921.

  From the many documents supplied me of JR’ records, it was recorded his father James Anthony was born June 23, 1884, his mother Jane Ann, November 10, 1877. There existed a seven year difference in age between them, which was not particularly unusual for a woman to be older at this time. JR’ went on to say his brother’s name was Edgar Arbon Copeland and his two older sisters were; Maida Pearl and Ida Mae Copeland.

  JR’s Mother - Jane Ann Adamson Copeland, (far right) and Father – James Anthony Copeland, (man on right) Circa 1910’s

  “They done such a good job with me, they quit,” said JR’ about being the last child born by his parents. Over the many interviews with JR’ I heard him mention this saying a few times. I imagined it may have come from a favorite aunt or uncle during one of those Copeland reunion’s JR’ enjoyed so much. Little did he know how true those words would become in his life. This was an individual who commanded men at the tender age of twenty-two—in what anyone would consider a horrific circumstance. His parents did indeed do ‘a good job with me.’ [ JR ]

  I asked JR’ what his father did for work at this time in his youth, (when JR’ was about 8 years old)

  “He did a lot of things the coal miners were trying to get a union going so he was occupied with that.” The time was 1928 to 1936 when JR’ was between the ages of seven and 15 years old. JR’s dad was a general manager of a company mine at one time, but it was not determined (at this time), which side JR’s dad represented in the union matter; management or workers. Given that, I’m sure it was a monumental task regardless of which side you came down on, battling the unionization efforts between coal mine management and miners.

  James Anthony Copeland

  JR’s Father (far right) Ci
rca 1920’s

  He went on to say that beyond his dad’s coal mine work . . .

  “We dug ginseng and sold it to China, he continued, we sold hides from wild animals— didn’t get nothing much, but this was when gas was twenty-five cents a gallon and he had to make it wherever he could.”

  Hard work was the way of life in his family and they knew of no other way to do things. The whole family worked hard and each contributed to the family’s existence.

  JR’ said they had a big two-acre garden for themselves and neighbors . . . “everyone ate good,” he said.

  “We raised big fields of corn and put most of the harvest in the root cellar.”

  He went on to say regarding his school days . . . “I didn’t like school much but I was good at it.” No one would ever question JR’s confidence and bravado, so I would expect him to do well in school.

  “Finished the eight grade in seven years,” he said, smiling with an expression of accomplishment. He remembers carrying wood into a pot-bellied stove to heat the old school building. The classes were evenly divided with girls and boys of all ages. After reading aloud a passage from the bible they recited the pledge of alliance. Is there any wonder we won World War II? I thought how much times have changed since the 1930’s.

  I asked JR’ if anyone in particular caught his eye during those school days . . .

  “Betty Stinnett—I think still living, she was little and delicate at the time but last time I saw her, much bigger,” he laughed. JR’ provided me a document indicating his voter registration of 1953 where Clifford Stinnett, Betty’s father, had signed it as the registrar of Fayette County, West Virginia.

  I asked what else interested him at this time in his life, during his school days . . .

  “We liked to play tree tag—you couldn’t tag them when they were on the ground, you had to be in the tree. We had grape vines we swung on and I remember one day my friend was about to swing and I told him I wanted to check it, I did and it pulled down to the ground, saving him from getting hurt.” I couldn’t help but think JR’s concern for the welfare of others was ingrained long before that important and incredible day on the infamous beach of Normandy, France.

  JR’ finished the eighth-grade when he was about 15 years old and went to work for his dad at the coal mine. His father, the general manager of the mine at the time, put JR’ to work on the outside of the mine loading and unloading coal delivery trucks. He worked at that for a short time but his dad thought the job too easy for JR’ assigning him other additional duties. JR’ did not work on the inside of the coal mine when he was young.

  Edgar, JR’s older brother was an accomplished baseball player while also working at several mines around the area.

  “He could get a job with any of the coal companies cause he was a good ball player,” JR’ said. With the many coal mines in West Virginia—competition ran beyond coal production and baseball was big pastime. Edgar drove a coal truck and delivered ice but the truck had to be sold prior to the war. Sisters Maida Pearl and Ida Mae worked with mother Jane Ann in keeping the homestead chores done. JR’ said they raised pigs and chickens that they used for their own family food. All family members worked hard and never thought they had any more or less than the next family.

  The books front cover is a picture of JR’ and ‘Chigger.’ He called Chigger ‘his first dog.’ JR’ would have been around eight years old at the time of this picture in 1929. Chigger looks similar to a Norfolk or Norwich terrier that originated in England and weighed no more than 10 to 12 pounds. JR’ loved Chigger completely and was certainly unaware of the dog’s origin or, ironically, of Chigger’s European connection. His connection came a few years later on D-Day, June 6, 1944, fighting for his life on Omaha Beach.

  “Chigger was blond and no bigger than a cat,” JR’ said with an easy smile.

  I’m not sure JR’s youth was much different than most in West Virginia at that time but there were defining occasions of his leadership. His integrity of working hard for the family, his courage when testing the grape vine, his humility throughout his school days and his love and caring for his best friend—his first dog, Chigger. All provided hints to JR’s true character.

  In JR’s home there exists this beautifully framed picture of JR’ and Chigger, smeared with fingerprints from surely the many holdings late at night. The picture has a special place—right next to Ranger Copeland.

  James Robert Copeland

  Chapter Two

  JR’ Copeland’s Military Induction

  On January 8, 1940, almost two full years prior to JR’ entering the Army, his father James Anthony Copeland, is killed in a coal-mine accident. His father was manager of a mine near Sanger, West Virginia, owned by Cliff Garten. JR’s father and Garten were at odds with one another many times as Garten resented James Anthony for his favorable view and work to unionize the coal mines.

  “They black-balled him after being fired a couple times . . . none of the owners would hire him because of his fight to get the unions going,” JR’ said about his father.

  Obviously, the mine owners felt it would cost them additional money for worker wages and added rules and regulations to install worker safety throughout the coalmines site. The war between the mine workers and owners went on for several years.

  Garten hired JR’s father because James Anthony offered to use his own team of mules in Garten’s mine. This was obviously a big monetary savings for Garten . . . so he hired him to work in the mine and manage a crew of men. One day, James Anthony was driving his own mule team down into the mine when he fell from his perch on the front bumper of a coal wagon. The wagon, loaded with men, rolled over him before they could stop the mules, causing severe internal bleeding. He died before they got him to the local hospital. JR’ was eighteen years old at the time.

  JR’s father possessed incredible courage for standing firm in his beliefs about unionization with the coal mine owners. The unions finally came to the coal mines but James Anthony did not live to see it. His spirit and strong-will certainly influenced the young teenage JR’. Many would conclude there was no mystery why JR’ reacted as he did on Omaha Beach. Given the courage, strength and leadership of his father, James Anthony, JR’s abilities came natural on that fateful day.

  After his father died JR’ became somewhat restless. He worked part time for the coal companies but mostly kept to his delivery of large blocks of ice for refrigerators in the surrounding communities. He had his own business and done reasonably well, always saving some money here and there. JR’ was a good looking guy and strong as a bull from lifting huge blocks of ice all day. He liked the movie theater too which surely influenced him into buying a motorcycle.

  “It was a 1937 Harley Flathead,” he said, smiling, showing me a picture. This little episode in JR’s life, I’ll have to admit, didn’t surprise me in the least. He went on to tell me how he came to own the ‘37 Harley Flathead.

  JR’ was delivering ice one day around the town of Oak Hill, West Virginia (See map, page 23). He happened to be downtown, when he spotted this motorcycle parked in front of the local bank building. A guy came out of the bank door walking toward the motorcycle, JR’ asked, ‘That motorcycle for sale?’ The guy said, ‘Yeah, I’ll sell it.’ JR’ went inside the same bank this man came out of and got some cash. They completed the deal within ten minutes and JR’ became the proud owner of his very first (of many) Harley-Davidson motorcycles. He was thrilled beyond belief.

  “Had to have the guy teach me how to start it,” he remembers. “He showed me, gave me the title and my brother-in-law helped me load it in the pickup.”

  JR’ went on to say laughingly on the way back to Sanger from Oak Hill—his urge to ride his new possession got the best of him. He and his brother-in-law unloaded the motorcycle from the pickup so he could try it; JR’ couldn’t wait any longer.

  “I couldn’t crank it right to get it started so we pushed it to a downhill ahead, to get a running start.” He said he got it co
asting down the hill pretty good when he jammed it into gear—it fired up and off he went.

  “I had the gas turned plenty and the damn thing took off quick.” He rode it all the way back home to Sanger with his brother-in-law following in the truck.

  I can only envision JR’s adrenalin-rush straddling his new Harley going lickty-split down the hill full speed—his first experience of being on a motorcycle. Typical tough guy stuff, he surely must have felt invincible. I couldn’t help but think of his time on the beach and how his history of feeling invincible probably saved his life and the lives of many others.

  JR’ on his 1937 Harley Davidson “Flathead” Motorcycle Circa 1938- 41

  JR’ mentioned another story about the ownership of his first Harley Davidson motorcycle. Knowing what I did about JR’s courage and toughness, it didn’t surprise me with this other component to his personal makeup—humility.

  “Had to bring it (the motorcycle) back to the guy I’d bought it from to get him to show me how to start it again,” JR’ said, frowning.

  Here was JR’ telling me of an experience that anyone might well consider embarrassing. He again found himself asking for help in starting the motorcycle from the guy he bought it from. You’d think he would’ve found another hill before going back to the original owner to learn again how to start his new motorcycle. Not JR’. It was now apparent he possessed incredible insight and intelligence. Enough intelligence in fact, ‘to know what he knew and to ask about what he didn’t know.’ Few people, particularly men, have this personality trait. His revealing this story to me and his humility took courage and spoke volumes about his character. It was another instance among many that I thought revealed JR’s entirety. His strength, courage, intelligence and insight—all made a complete and total package. His parental upbringing and their influences, his life experiences in his youth, obviously made him a most unique individual. I thought how JR’ would come to utilize all his character traits on that infamous beach. It served him, and others, well.