Intermission Stories (25)

Martin Painkin

Martin Painkin

The U.S. Army Ranger

Martin Painkin was born in the Bronx, New York and joined the National Guard in the fall of 1940 – he was 15 years old.  Nearly four years later, he landed in the middle of a massive invasion.  “It was a slaughter.  It really was,” said Martin.

As a 19-year-old Private First Class with the 2nd Ranger Battalion, Painkin landed at Pointe du Hoc, the cliff promontory between Utah and Omaha Beaches, at 0711 hours – 41 minutes after H-Hour on the Longest Day.  The Germans welcomed the Rangers to Normandy with concentrated rifle, artillery and rocket fire.  For many of the men, the assault was over before it began.

“As soon as we hit the beach and they dropped the ramp, bam!  They were dead,” said Painkin.  “All around you there were burning ships and a lot of guys floating face down.  Dead.  Kaput.”  The Rangers that made it to shore alive and uninjured flattened themselves on the beach.  “You lay in the sand and you were too scared to move.  In front of you , you would see little dots in the sand, and those were machine-gun bullets.”

By noon, the survivors scaled the 100-foot cliffs before them and their commander transmitted a message, “Have reached the Pointe du Hoc.  Completed. Need ammunition and reinforcements.   Heavy losses.” (No reinforcements were available.)

Rangers demonstrate the D-Day climb at Pointe du Hoc

“The lucky ones, we made it,” Martin added.  “Whenever we ran into something tough   , they’d say, ‘Send in the Rangers!’  We were not supermen, as they thought we were.  We were maybe just a little better trained.”

For various actions throughout 1944, Martin Painkin was awarded more than a dozen medals for valor: Silver Star, Bronze Star, British Military Medal of Valor, Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart, and Croix de Guerre to name a few.  (“Boy, oh boy, I must have been some idiot,” Martin said.)

Painkin’s wife, Barbara, also at the interview, began to read from her husband’s Silver Star citation:

On numerous occasions he purposely exposed himself to well-aimed enemy fire in order to determine the enemy positions.  After locating these positions, he boldly attacked and demolished them.  He continued for three days to act with utter disregard for his own safety as he hunted and destroyed numerous snipers and machine-gunners.”

“You know something?” Painkin said.  “That shows we were idiots.  I mean, who the hell would do that?  A lot of these things we did without even thinking.  I tell you one thing – I wouldn’t do it again.”

Bill Mauldin’s version

Martine Painkin gave this interview to Staci Sturrock, of the Palm Beach Post, from his wheelchair where he now lives at the VA Community Center, Riviera Beach, Florida.

Click on images to enlarge.

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Current veteran news – 

The attributes we so love in the Greatest Generation continue in many of our people today.  One such example is the stamina and endurance of Sgt. Cory Remsburg, 75th Ranger Regiment.  While on his 10th deployment, was paces behind a fellow soldier as he stepped on a mine.  Cory was transported, while in a coma, but still alive.  After 5 years, various VA hospitals, numerous doctors and operations, countless hours of rehap and the efforts of an army of caregivers – including his father, stepmother and service dog, Leo – Sgt. Cory Remsburg managed to stand in front of the U.S. Congress and give a thumbs-up!

Army Ranger 1st Class Sgt. Remsburg

Notice the sign above the mirror

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Farewell Salutes – 

Carl Booker – Richardson, TX; US Army, Sgt., WWII

James Caesar – Mill Creek, WA; US Army, Lt.Colonel (Ret.), Vietnam 2 tours

Gerald Dederick Jr. – Hackensack, NJ & Gulf Stream, FL; US Navy, WWII, Medical corps, USS Dover & land hospitals

Norman Eldeer – Calgary, Can.; Canadian & UN forces, Major 35 years

Joe Moore – Brookfield, MO; US Army (Ret. 21 years), WWII & Korea

Donald Prindiville – Lombard, IL; US Army, WWII

Athol White – Tauranga, NZ; RNZ Air Force # 4215809, WWII

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