India Company’s Roll Call
“Men who were warriors, famous men, and heads over their ancestral houses.”
1 Chronicles 5:24
From his moment of capture until the last days of his life, he was aware that he was spared and often mentioned those he left behind. Those he met and with whom he lost touch and, most especially, those who died on foreign beaches, fields, forests, and prison camps. They never had the chance to come home and live the full life that he did. That weighed on him forever, and it was a mystery that always puzzled him. I would like to honor some of those men with whom he served, especially those who died far from home.
During the later phase of writing my book, I found a roster of India Company, 3rd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. I placed it next to my writing station and found myself almost constantly looking at the names. Some I recognized and a few were the names of paratroopers I was honored to meet. The list was compiled by one of the men in the company after the war, and he made a point of noting those who died in the years that passed, and those who were killed in action (KIA). Of course, the KIAs were the ones that really hit me in the chest, knowing that they were once brave, ready-to-go young men who met the fate that awaits so many in war – a violent, youthful death. Knowing that my father was blessed to have lived a full life after this epic adventure allowed me to have some sense of what the others may have missed.
Reading through the roster, I came across the name of Sgt. Manlove. I was heartbroken. I did not know he was killed in combat until I saw it on paper. My father mentioned him often. He was a friend. While writing my book, I came to realize that Manlove was one of those in the burning C-47 plane that expelled Ray Crouch, Leonard “Sam” Goodgal, Neils Christenson, and Floyd Johnston (I met Mr. Goodgal in 1995.). Those four survived and connected with the Rangers at Pointe du Hoc. Sadly, Bev Manlove and the rest of the paratroopers and aircrew were lost when their fiery plane crashed into the sea. They were trapped and could not get out. My father’s friend never had a chance to leap from the plane and test his mettle against the enemy. Please take a minute to read and honor the names of the men from India Company as representatives of the many who fell in the wars of our nation, including some whom we knew and still love; men like Sgt. Manlove.
506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion, India Company
Killed in Action
Cpl Donald E. Bignall
T/4 John E. Bray, Jr.
Pvt James L. Brown
Pvt Keith E. Bryan
PFC Harry L Burg, Jr.
PFC Richard L. Calhoon
PFC Warren K. Carney
PFC James P. Cook
PFC Frank Cress
PFC Edwin Finder
PFC Bryant L. Hinson
PFC John J. Houk, Jr.
1/Lt Gerald Howard
Pvt Thomas E. Jackson
S/Sgt James H. Japhet
Pvt Robert W. Kangas
Pvt George J. Karaluna
PFC George E. Kenfield
1/Lt John W. Kiley
Pvt Robert C. Kinzy
PFC John J. Kittia
Pvt Phil W. Langschultz
Sgt Beverly Manlove
Pvt Roy Mezo
T/5 James E. Millican
PFC William E. Olsen
Pvt Howard Phillips
PFC Alvin Poynter
S/Sgt George O. Retan
S/Sgt Fran E. Rick
T/5 Leslie B. Riley
PFC Frederick P. Smith
Cpl Marvin M. Stallings
Pvt Francis L. Swanson
Sgt Robert L. Todd
T/5 Orville R. Vanderpool
PFC James W. Walker
PFC Newton P. Weathersby
Pvt Glen L. Weirich
Pvt John A. Wright
Pvt Clarence M. Wright
Cpl Stanley Zebrosky
As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.