Private Ruben Ruiz Tellez
Ruben and his brother Pete enlisted in the Army, neither were drafted. They were assigned to different units. Ruben was 5'3" and 102 pounds when he enlisted, not a very big guy physically but a guy with a big heart.
The Army was guaranteed work and money--"keeping the world safe" was less of a priority for the Tellez brothers than helping their family. Ruben volunteered for the paratroopers. That earned an extra $50 per month.
Ruben was assigned to the 101st Airborne, 506th Parachute Infantry Brigade, D Company.
There is a book called Band of Brothers that tells the story of E company in the same unit. Ruben knew the guys in E company. They trained and prepared for war together. Reading that book gave me a window into Ruben's training, buddies, and battle experiences. While reading it, I felt I knew what Ruben was going through at those times.
Both Ruben and Pete were sent to the European theater to fight Hitler.
When younger brother Bobby was of age, he enlisted, also. It was after WW II had ended. He wanted to find out what it had been like in the parachute infantry for Ruben. Bobby became a paratrooper because he looked up to his brother and did it as a tribute to him. (Interview March 2012)
The Army was guaranteed work and money--"keeping the world safe" was less of a priority for the Tellez brothers than helping their family. Ruben volunteered for the paratroopers. That earned an extra $50 per month.
Ruben was assigned to the 101st Airborne, 506th Parachute Infantry Brigade, D Company.
There is a book called Band of Brothers that tells the story of E company in the same unit. Ruben knew the guys in E company. They trained and prepared for war together. Reading that book gave me a window into Ruben's training, buddies, and battle experiences. While reading it, I felt I knew what Ruben was going through at those times.
Both Ruben and Pete were sent to the European theater to fight Hitler.
When younger brother Bobby was of age, he enlisted, also. It was after WW II had ended. He wanted to find out what it had been like in the parachute infantry for Ruben. Bobby became a paratrooper because he looked up to his brother and did it as a tribute to him. (Interview March 2012)
U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 about Ruben R Tellez
Name: Ruben R Tellez
Birth Year: 1924
Race: White, citizen (White)
Nativity State or Country: Arizona
State of Residence: California
County or City: San Diego
Enlistment Date: 22 Apr 1943
Enlistment State: California
Enlistment City: Los Angeles
Branch No branch assignment
Branch Code: No branch assignment
Grade: Private
Grade Code: Private
Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men)
Source: Civil Life
Education: 2 years of high school
Civil Occupation: Packing, filling, labeling, marking, bottling, and related occupations, n.e.c.
Marital Status: Single, without dependents
Height: 63
Weight: 102
Birth Year: 1924
Race: White, citizen (White)
Nativity State or Country: Arizona
State of Residence: California
County or City: San Diego
Enlistment Date: 22 Apr 1943
Enlistment State: California
Enlistment City: Los Angeles
Branch No branch assignment
Branch Code: No branch assignment
Grade: Private
Grade Code: Private
Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men)
Source: Civil Life
Education: 2 years of high school
Civil Occupation: Packing, filling, labeling, marking, bottling, and related occupations, n.e.c.
Marital Status: Single, without dependents
Height: 63
Weight: 102
Intent
According to the wistful recollection of Ruben's sister, Rose, he had a very nice girlfriend in San Diego when he left for the Army. Ruben was more of a one-girl-guy; he didn't date a lot of different girls in high school or after. And this one? Ruben had told the family before he left that he intended to marry her. Unfortunately, he died before that could happen. Rose no longer can recall the young lady's name. (Interview March 2012)
The Screaming Eagles: 101st Airborne, 506th Parachute Infantry Brigade, D Company--Ruben's company
D-Day - Operation Neptune
The 101st Airborne Division first saw combat during the Normandy invasion - 6 June 1944. The division, as part of the VII Corps assault, jumped in the dark morning before H-Hour to seize positions west of Utah Beach. Given the mission of anchoring the corps' southern flank, the division was also to eliminate the German's secondary beach defenses, allowing the seaborne forces of the 4th Infantry Division, once ashore, to continue inland. The SCREAMING EAGLES were to capture the causeway bridges that ran behind the beach between St. Martin-de-Varreville and Pouppeville. In the division's southern sector, it was to seize the la Barquette lock and destroy a highway bridge northwest of the town of Carentan and a railroad bridge further west. At the same time elements of the division were to establish two bridgeheads on the Douve River at le Port, northeast of Carentan.
Source: http://www.ww2-airborne.us/18corps/101abn/101_overview.html
The 101st Airborne Division first saw combat during the Normandy invasion - 6 June 1944. The division, as part of the VII Corps assault, jumped in the dark morning before H-Hour to seize positions west of Utah Beach. Given the mission of anchoring the corps' southern flank, the division was also to eliminate the German's secondary beach defenses, allowing the seaborne forces of the 4th Infantry Division, once ashore, to continue inland. The SCREAMING EAGLES were to capture the causeway bridges that ran behind the beach between St. Martin-de-Varreville and Pouppeville. In the division's southern sector, it was to seize the la Barquette lock and destroy a highway bridge northwest of the town of Carentan and a railroad bridge further west. At the same time elements of the division were to establish two bridgeheads on the Douve River at le Port, northeast of Carentan.
Source: http://www.ww2-airborne.us/18corps/101abn/101_overview.html
Now is the time
“Tonight is the Night of Nights. Tomorrow throughout the whole of our homeland and the Allied world the bells will ring out the tidings that you have arrived, and the invasion for liberation has begun.”
- Colonel Robert F. Sink, commanding officer, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, June 5, 1944
- Colonel Robert F. Sink, commanding officer, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, June 5, 1944
The Battle Begins
As the assault force approached the French coast, it encountered fog and antiaircraft fire, which forced some of the planes to break formation. Paratroopers from both the 82d and 101st Airborne Divisions missed their landing zones and were scattered over wide areas. For many the first struggle of combat was to find their units; 1500 soldiers from the division were killed or captured. When units or soldiers finally assembled, they had difficulty in identifying their locations relative to their objectives. The paratroopers of the 101st were promised reinforcements at dawn, when 51 of the division's gliders were scheduled to land. The gliders, however, had problems of their own. Many of the gliders crashed, and several soldiers of the division were killed, including Brig. Gen. Don F. Pratt, the assistant division commander. A second glider landing at dusk that day produced even more casualties.
The men of the division, however, persevered and proceeded with their assigned missions as best they could. By nightfall soldiers from the 101st had secured the beach exits in their zone and contacted the landing forces of the 4th Division. The SCREAMING EAGLES also controlled the la Barquette lock, but could not secure crossings on the Douve River. The following day 101st elements attempted to advance in the division's southern sector, but made little progress against heavy enemy resistance near the village of St. Côme-du-Mont. That same day General Eisenhower directed that American efforts be focused on closing the gap between the V and VII Corps. The VII Corps received orders to capture the town of Carentan, and the 101st, already in position outside St. Côme-du-Mont to the northwest, was given the task.
On 8 June elements of the 501st and 506th Parachute Infantry, along with the 1st Battalion, 401st Glider Infantry, engaged a German force in the town of St. Côme-du-Mont. The 3d Battalion, 501st PIR, took positions south of the town, along the highway to Carentan where it encountered the enemy. The 1st Battalion, 401st Glider Infantry, was called to aid the 3d Battalion, but the enemy withdrew before the glider troops arrived. Both of the 101st battalions pursued the retreating enemy, but there was no additional contact. The Germans had abandoned the town, and the SCREAMING EAGLES moved in to plan the next step in the drive on Carentan.
The attack on Carentan was to be two pronged. The right arm of the drive was to cross the causeway northwest of Carentan, bypass the town, and continue to the southwest to occupy La Billonerie, also called Hill 30, which, it was thought, covered potential escape routes available to the Germans. The left arm of the assault was to cross the Douve River near Brevands, with the main body of that force continuing on to Carentan, while a smaller portion of the force moved east to the Vire River to contact the V Corps.
Source: http://www.ww2-airborne.us/18corps/101abn/101_overview.html
The men of the division, however, persevered and proceeded with their assigned missions as best they could. By nightfall soldiers from the 101st had secured the beach exits in their zone and contacted the landing forces of the 4th Division. The SCREAMING EAGLES also controlled the la Barquette lock, but could not secure crossings on the Douve River. The following day 101st elements attempted to advance in the division's southern sector, but made little progress against heavy enemy resistance near the village of St. Côme-du-Mont. That same day General Eisenhower directed that American efforts be focused on closing the gap between the V and VII Corps. The VII Corps received orders to capture the town of Carentan, and the 101st, already in position outside St. Côme-du-Mont to the northwest, was given the task.
On 8 June elements of the 501st and 506th Parachute Infantry, along with the 1st Battalion, 401st Glider Infantry, engaged a German force in the town of St. Côme-du-Mont. The 3d Battalion, 501st PIR, took positions south of the town, along the highway to Carentan where it encountered the enemy. The 1st Battalion, 401st Glider Infantry, was called to aid the 3d Battalion, but the enemy withdrew before the glider troops arrived. Both of the 101st battalions pursued the retreating enemy, but there was no additional contact. The Germans had abandoned the town, and the SCREAMING EAGLES moved in to plan the next step in the drive on Carentan.
The attack on Carentan was to be two pronged. The right arm of the drive was to cross the causeway northwest of Carentan, bypass the town, and continue to the southwest to occupy La Billonerie, also called Hill 30, which, it was thought, covered potential escape routes available to the Germans. The left arm of the assault was to cross the Douve River near Brevands, with the main body of that force continuing on to Carentan, while a smaller portion of the force moved east to the Vire River to contact the V Corps.
Source: http://www.ww2-airborne.us/18corps/101abn/101_overview.html
506th Parachute Infantry Brigade: Paratroopers
Paratroopers were the first on the ground as part of the D-Day Invasion. They were dropped in and behind enemy lines to destroy access routes for the Germans, get the ground ready for the American and British landings, and to secure specific targets. These paratroopers knew that if the accompanying assault by sea failed -- there would be no rescue.
Leaving Portland Bill on the English coast, the 101st and 82nd U.S. Airborne Divisions dropped on the Cherbourg peninsula. From there, the 101st was to secure the western end behind UTAH and head off an eastern German advance. The 82nd, landing farther inland, was to seize the bridges and halt a westerly advance.
Risky Operation led to Heavy Losses
Heavy fog and storm along with German guns proved formidable challenges for both air and sea forces. Pilots could not drop the paratroopers precisely as planned. Many missed their targets by 5-10 miles. Pilots were unable to fly the previously expected altitude; troopers jumped out of planes in some cases far below their expected height and their chutes for some did not deploy in time for landing. In some cases, paratroopers fell through the sky and landed in trees, suspended. Many were immediately killed by German gun fire.
Ruben's 101st Division suffered great losses. Only one sixth of the men reached their destination points. Ruben made it to the ground and stayed alive, fighting all day.
The first regiment of the 82nd Division fared better, but the second suffered heavy supply losses -- much of the division was left without sufficient arms.
As the missed targeted landings foiled the original operation's intent, both divisions managed to form smaller improvised squads, and organized themselves to fight. Ruben fought through all of D-Day and the next day.
A Weight on Their Shoulders
Paratroopers carried an average of 70 pounds of equipment. Officers averaged 90 pounds of gear. With the parachute, men weighed in at 90 to 120 pounds over their body weight. Ruben enlisted at 103 pounds! He would have been carrying about his own weight or more! The weight was so heavy, many of the paratroopers had to be helped into the planes and then to their feet to make the jump. But, they did it.
The paratroopers were jumping into unknown territory. They needed to be prepared for any encounter or conditions. Here's what they took:
Standard Parachutist pack
M-1 Garand Rifle with 8-round clip
cartridge belt with canteen
hand grenades
parachute and pack
anti-flash headgear and gloves
pocket compass
machete
.45 caliber Colt automatic pistol
flares
message book
Officer pack
(British, but similar to American officer pack)
Sten gun
spare magazines with 9mm ammunition
2 lb. plastic high explosives (HE)
2-36 primed hand grenades
two full belts of Vickers
.303 ammunition
wire cutters
radio batteries
small-pack
basic equipment webbing
48 hours' worth of rations
water
cooking and washing kit
Spread throughout pockets
loaded .45 automatic pistol
medical kit
2 additional lb. HE
knife
escape/survival kit
toggle rope
additional personal items
Emergency rations
4 pieces of chewing gum
2 bouillon cubes
2 Nescafe instant coffees, 2 sugar cubes, and creamers
4 Hershey bars
1 pack of Charms candy
1 package pipe tobacco
1 bottle of water purification (Halazone) tablets to purify water. "To use: Put two tablets in canteen full of water (approx. 1 qt.) and shake briskly. Wait 30 minutes before drinking water. If water is dirty or discolored, use 4 tablets."
Source: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/dday/sfeature/sf_paratrooper.html American Experience
Isabelle Knows
Isabelle was married and living at Tucson, AZ, when Ruben was in the Army. She went to her father's home for a short visit in June 1944 and brought her first child with her. (The others were not yet born) One day, she was in the house cooking and cleaning, watching the kids, listening to the radio. The announcement that the Normandy Beach D-Day invasion had commenced was broadcast. Isabelle was overcome with dread. She became very upset and was trembling. She could not separate herself from the radio for that entire day. When her father came home, he asked what was wrong. She told him "Ruben is dead."
Pedro insisted that could not be, that Ruben was at Fort Knox. Pedro had gotten a V-mail saying so. Isabelle continued saying and crying that he was wrong. That she knew Ruben was in the invasion and that he was dead.
Eventually, Pedro was able to calm her down. She did, however, continue to insist that she just "knew" that Ruben was in the invasion and had died.
As things turned out, she was almost correct. Ruben WAS in the invasion. But, he did not die for two more days. (Interview May 2012)
Ruben was Killed June 8, 1944
Bobby remembers the day that their father got the notice that Ruben was dead. Pedro had received and read it several times. It must have been delivered to him at work. He usually walked up to their house with a bounce in his step and enthusiasm after work. That day when Pedro came home from work, he was dejected, sad, and defeated. He told the family who were there that they had lost Ruben to the war.
The paper with the news has been lost. Bobby remembers his father told them that Ruben had been killed by German machine gun fire on June 8, 1944. That much had been communicated with the dreadful news. Bobby does not remember any more details. Bobby was ten years old when Ruben died.
Pedro had remarried after Pat's 1940 death. According to Rose, Pedro's second wife sent one of her kids (she already had children of her own before marrying Pedro) over to where some of Ruben's siblings were. That kid announced "You can't go to the movies. Your brother is dead." That was a very cold, unfeeling way to tell them. Rose was 14 at the time and remembers it vividly to this day. The family does not refer to wife #2 by name, just "the old bag." She was not liked by Pat's kids. (Interview March 2012)
The paper with the news has been lost. Bobby remembers his father told them that Ruben had been killed by German machine gun fire on June 8, 1944. That much had been communicated with the dreadful news. Bobby does not remember any more details. Bobby was ten years old when Ruben died.
Pedro had remarried after Pat's 1940 death. According to Rose, Pedro's second wife sent one of her kids (she already had children of her own before marrying Pedro) over to where some of Ruben's siblings were. That kid announced "You can't go to the movies. Your brother is dead." That was a very cold, unfeeling way to tell them. Rose was 14 at the time and remembers it vividly to this day. The family does not refer to wife #2 by name, just "the old bag." She was not liked by Pat's kids. (Interview March 2012)