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In 1979, Bill Brown started researching the story of
a who had served in F Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th PIR
whom Bill met in 1943 when the soldier was home on what was his
last leave. Bill was 15, and went to high school with the soldier's
brother, who is still alive.
The soldier, PFC Orel H. Lev (DSC), jumped into Normandy
June 6, 1944. He was WIA June 8, 1944, but later returned to
Fox Company, and made the jump into Holland. PFC Lev was awarded
the Distinguished Service Cross for action near Veghel,
Holland, on September 23, 1944, and was subsequently
KIA, October 8, 1944, on the dikes near Heteren en
Randwijk (about 9 miles southwest of Arnhem) with four other
men.
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The soldier's story turned into a 179-page book about Fox Company
written for the families of the F Company Currahees. Over the
years, Bill attended many 101st reunions; been in contact with
almost 40 members of Fox Company; visited Holland and Normandy
for two weeks in 2000; and stood on the dike where Lev was killed.
In addition to the story of Fox Company and narratives from
surviving company members, the book contained F Company personnel
lists, many Fox Company photos which had been passed
around among the F Company veterans, and sketches by Burton
Christenson (E Co, 2nd BN, 506th PIR).
This book is no
longer in print. |