The 82nd Airborne at Neuville-au-Plain

JUNE 6, 1944. Lt. Turner Turnbull and the 42 men of Company D, 2nd Battalion, 505th PIR undertook a task intended for a battalion—he was to block the main road to a German battalion, pressing from Cherbourg against the American right flank. In early morning he engaged the enemy at the village of Neuville au Plain.

The platoon held its ground throughout the day, but by dusk the enemy had closed around both its flanks and was about to cut the escape route. Turnbull had 23 men left. He said to them, “There’s one thing left to do; we can charge them.” Pfc. Joseph Sebastian, who had just returned from reconnoitering to the rear, said, “I think there’s a chance we can still get out; that’s what we ought to do.” Turnbull asked his men, “What’s your judgment?” They supported Sebastian as having the sounder idea.

In a twinkling Turnbull made his decision—he told the others to get set for the run. Pfc Sebastian, who had argued Turnbull into a withdrawal, volunteered to stand his ground and cover the others with a BAR. Corp. Raymond Smitson and Sgt. Robert Niland volunteered to help Sebastian cover the withdrawal.

The 16 remaining survivors all made it back to their Battalion, though Turnbull was killed in action a few days later, and the 3 men of the rear guard also perished. Their one-day fight preserved the flank of an Army.

For economy of effort, and power of decision, there is not a brighter example in the whole book of war.

— The Armed Forces Officer, Department of the Army Pamphlet 600-2