On September 12th 2006, Bill Guarnere & Ed Heffron stepped off their luxury coach outside the Crown Inn in the Wiltshire village of Aldbourne, England. A small group of locals were there to meet them as well as the Living History group "Thunder From Heaven" who provided an honour guard. They were inspected by Babe and Bill - who remarked on one membe who carried an M3 Grease gun "You just as well piss on the Germans than use this thing"!

The weather was kind to the visitors whilst they were in Aldbourne. It was good to be able to say "welcome home" to them once more.

My thoughts are with them as they continue their tour, to Normandy, Ardennes and Austria. The emotions building ever stronger I'm sure.

Thanks Simon. This looks like the last time they will visit the ETO, so it is a trip that should be cherrished by anyone who meets up with them.

I found out last week they were coming to UK and if I had known earlier I would have been there like a shot

Any pics?

Bill and Babe are in Eindohoven over the weekend and Monday. I'll try and get down to Eindhoven on the Monday, hopefully there is something going on.

Steve.

more! more! more!

I'll try to join you. I'll spend the thursday, friday, saturday and sunday in the Arnhem/Oosterbeek area (and Nijmegen), and try to get down to Eindhoven on monday. The thing with Eindhoven is... it's very hard to find out what market garden events are taking place there. Frustrating. No up to date tourist information, no war museums with professional websites, etc.

But perhaps some others know what's going on there this weekend. Hope they'll inform us.

I was wandering whether this would be the last time I see them both together. I have some friends who are meeting up with them in Bastogne later this month.

They are both so gracious and accomodating. Happily posing for pictures or signing books etc.

I couldn't help but keep grinning as Bills anecdotes. The man is a living legend. If I am half as spritely as him when I reach 83 then I'll be happy.

God bless them.

Rub it in why don't you . As they say in Scotland "Ya Jammy git"

Why don't you come over. Perhaps Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink is willing to offer you a chair in his plane? I heard he's doing o.k. in Glasgow. We already miss him... Kluivert is no worthy substitute for our "Jan".

Gimme a call when you land.

Very nearly did. My mates are going for the Copenhagen game - I can't make it. Jan or "big name" we call him is doing well. I plan to do the Arnhem tour next year so maybe Celtic will have a game there in the Champions League at the same time next year. "Big name" and his and my team are playing Manchester United tonight - ever heard of them? Should be a breeze for the Hoops.

Doesn't ring a bell

But watch out for Copenhagen!

Dear All,

My son and I have just come back from Bayeux where we met Bill and Babe and some other lovely people such as Arlene (Gene Guarnere's wife and Bill's daughter-in-law), Trisha (Babe's daughter), Jane, Bob and Vincent from the WW2 tours.

I drove from Le Havre to Bayeux to be able to see them for a little hour and back. They have a busy schedule and I didn't want to disrupt it.

Bill was charming, joking and open, as ever.

I saw Babe very briefly but he was ever so kind. He apologised because he couldn't remember we'd met for the first time 3 years ago... No wonder, with the number of people they meet!

Tony, I hope I'll see them again. I know Babe wants some peace and quiet and I fully understand but Bill looked fit as a fiddle and told me so too. So I really hope he'll be back.

Ian, I did warn you about their coming over, I did my best.

I have a message for Jafser from Arlene: she keeps a good memory of you and told me that I should ask you where your nickname comes from.


I'll use the search button to try and find out how to insert a photo... Otherwise, I'll ask for help.

Each time I meet up with Bill and Babe, I come back full of energy. Untrue the effect they have on me.

Nathalie

Nathalie, good on you for making yet another trek to see Bill and Babe. And it's great to hear your excitement.

Congrats to Jaffser for making such an impression.

And, speaking of memory . . . you first met Bill and Babe -- and Tony and me -- FOUR years ago. Mid-September, 2002, Carentan.

At least Le Havre is a shorter jaunt to the Normandy battle areas than was Le Mans. C'est bon?

Yeah thanks Nathalie, however, it wasn't soon enough to organise time off etc. Not your fault just pressure of work and we are short staffed.

Ian

Here's a link to the Tours website. Scroll down the page and it shows the itinary. Alas, it does not give actual timings but it gives you a good idea of where they will be on a certain day. I am hoping that they will visit the Liberation Museum at Grossbeek on Sunday afternoon. I should be able to get over there from the mornings events at Oosterbeek. If anyone knows the times please share!

ww2tours

Hope this helps.

Chris...

Ian, I know what constraints work can give. It's just a shame.

Re. schedule, it's difficult to find out. I only managed to know in which hotel they would stay in Bayeux and around which time they would check in. I wrote a mail to Mrs Pfeiffer and she kindly replied. They have a busy schedule and there's no time for improvisation.

So, I thought meeting them a the hotel before dinner would be my best bet. Even if the time wasn't great for me (my son had to be at school this morning, which means we couldn't stay long, unfortunately).
I would have loved to stay for dinner with Bill, Babe and Arlene but my parental duties come first.

Doug,
I'd have done the trip even for 10 minutes with them.
Are you sure it was in 2002 because I wasn't a member of these boards yet. I joined in November 2002. If we have a look at my photo album here, we'll find the date.

Re. the 2 photos we took, I asked BK for help because I didn't find the info I wanted.





PS: Doug, I checked and you're right: Sept. 17th 2002. I can't believe it was so long ago!!!!
Awful how time flies, I'll be in a wheelchair before long.

Talking of rubbing it in I just got a message from our friend Misako who is currently in Aldbourne and she has met Mr Shifty Powers and Mr Paul Rogers.

Nice one Seiko, get a few pics and autographs.

Green-eyed monster is rearing its head. Wish I were there, but do look back v. fondly at my 2004 trip when I got to meet the 'boys' and many of the people on the tour...not to mention spend a lot of time with our own Frank, Daphne, and Mark. sigh.

That's a great story Nathalie!! I'm sure Jaf'll drop in and let you know!

Yep, Jaf is memorable! Just ask his wife! Rachel refers to us women in the US as his fan club and told his mates last year in NY that we follow him all over the place!

Lisa Marie

I added Nathalie's photos to her post above. Have a look.

Sorry I took so long to see your e-mail, Nat! BK

Thanks for the photo's BK. Now we believe you, Nathalie Great posts.

Nice pictures Nathalie. Good to see that you were able to meet them.

Frank

No problem, BK, thank you very much for your help (again... )

Lisa Marie, well, I'm eagerly waiting for Jaffser to answer...

Frank and Bart, maybe you'll have more stories to tell and more photos to post soon. They're coming your way. Lucky you!

Does anybody knwo if Bill Guarnere and Edward Heffron will be in the townhall on Monday? I will be there as I got tickets for the reception after the parade.

Frank

MacFrank,

This is the schedule I found for Monday on WW2 Tours.

" 18 (Mon) BB – Eindhoven: Today is Liberation Day in Eindhoven and we’ll be joined again by our Dutch friends as we spend some of the day as the guests of honor at various events commemorating the liberation of Eindhoven. As Babe was the first American in Eindhoven during its liberation, he is well known around town and will be focus of the festivities. We’ll have the balance of the day free to explore the many cafes and restaurants of this lively town. "

I'll shoot him an e-mail and ask him to get his Irish arse in action!

Lisa Marie

If memory serves they didnt go to the reception in 2004, they were found at an Irish bar Might be different this time though as it wont be as packed. The reception is great though, free food and drink (cheers Bart)

Andy

If they went to an Irish Bar Andy, are you sure they wanted to be found!!! People go in by the droves but only a few come out, or is that remember coming out? I don't know!! Been there a few times in my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




Hi Frenchie, (Thanx Lisa Marie for getting in touch, I have been snowed under with work and sometimes the whole world gets away from me! apols!), when I read this thread i immediately had a smile wider than my face, (ouch!), and I was tempted to PM you directly with my story but I could only see me having to repeat this function on numerous occasions to others so I decided to post instead..

For those of you who do not know the origins of my nickname, buckle up, for those who do, TOUGH!!

Back in the day, Aug 1986, when I joined our great forces with others about my age I was but a whippet of a thing compared to my bulk today. That I say others were about my age is slightly incorrect as I was just 16yo and the 'Others' were up to 18yo. Of course, true to fashion, first thing to happen to us was, I won't say haircut because thats too tame but, I will say, hair removal. The next was a basic issue of the bog basic gear that we would need for the next bumpy spell in our lives. Runners and Togs!!!

Ok so there we have my first few hours out of the way..

The next few hours have affected my life ever since........!!!!!!!!! How I remember with a laugh now but at the time this was not the case..!!

We started running, and running, and running, and running, and running... you get the picture.. anyway, we ran out the road, we ran in, and when we were running back under the archway to our parade ground our speedy gonzales handed us over to a drill Sgt without us even missing a pace. This drill Sgt, Hennessy, stood on the center of the Square and watched as we went around and around and around the Square. A comrade of his, an MP Sgt, went out to him and they struck up a conversation. And we went around and around and around.. Get the picture so far?

Anyway, after an age, at some point in the proceedings I got an almighty stitch in my side, so bad that I thought somone had reached up to their elbow in me and just pulled my spleen out through my Ar*e. I collapsed in a heap and the Drill Sgt calved.... I was immediately ambulanced off to the nearest military hospital and was queried appendicitis..

However, back at the ranch, the 'others' continued their training and continued to accept late arrivals into the platoon. This is where the original Jaf comes into its own!

On arrival, having received their new kit, newbies had to choose their own bedspace to keep their belongings but some of these newbie newbies went to choose MY bedspace, as I wasn't there, but were told that they couldn't have it because it had already been claimed. When they asked by whom, and of course nobody knowing anyone else, nobody could supply an answer except, "I don't know, Just Another F**king A**hole, (JAFA).

I recovered in hospital for about 3 days and returned to:
A: my bedspace had been relocated to right near the door, which turned out to be a good thing in the long run, and

B: everybody calling me JAFA!

In time Jafa turned to Jaffa which in turn changed to just Jaf!

I was sharing accomodation with these guys for about 18months when one lad became orderly for the week and came around looking for me.. He said to me that he had been given the roll call sheet and had seen my REAL name but hadn't recognised me from it. HE HAD ONLY FOUND OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME WHAT ME NAME WAS! AND HE HAD BEEN LIVING WITH ME FOR A YEAR AND A HALF!!!!!!!!!!.....


So there is where Jaf came from and in the intervening 17 years since I have left Devoy Barracks, which has since been demolished, Jaf became Jaffser, Jabnet, Jaffser O'Loonasa, Jaffy, Geoff and about as many other derivations as you can possibly think of. There are still people today that ONLY know me by my age old nickname 'Jaf'. A name that I have long since had an affinity with.

There you are Frenchie, the whole kit and caboodle..!

The story is so much better when I get to tell it in person but everybody will have to excuse my lame attempt of trying to introduce a little humour into what is quite a mundane story and I have to say that I am also very surprised that Arlene has taken such a shine to it!

Arlene, if you get this message, thank you for making me blush.. Not an easy acomplishment, as Rachel might have told you! x

Jaf,

Hi all,

Yesterday I had the honour of being able to spend the entire day with Wild Bill Guarnere and Babe Heffron. This was because of the kind invitation of Ray and Cristy at Historic Tours, who let me (also a tour guide) join them as their guest - I even did some guiding at Brecourt Manor. Though I was with the group all day I also got some great "one on one" time with Bill. I had less time with Babe who was very quiet and seemed tired, I guess his time for being in the "spotlight" will arrive in Eindhoven.

I interviewed Bill for about 30 minutes while the tour group he was with visited the Dead Man's Corner Museum, and then spent over an hour with him at Utah beach while the group toured the sites. I also got to walk the Brecourt field with Bill and he kindly asked many niggling questions I had about the engagement. I also discussed with him fighting in and around Culoville, Vierville and Bloody Gulch.

It's days like these that make me truely grateful to do the job I do.

Paul Woodadge

Fine looking T-shirt you have there, Paul!!

So, were the guns in a straight line ... or L-shaped? I had a brief exchange with LarryA about that. What did Bill say? Spill it, man.

I'm thrilled you had such a good day with the boys. Piece o' woik, ain't he???

Best, BK

Hi BK,

Bill isn't certain about the location of gun 1, he says "in the corner", which could support either the "L shaped" or "straight line" theory. I still maintain myself that all 4 guns were in a straight line facing east, but in truth we're unlikely to ever know for certain.

I did find out sme other VERY interesting snippets about Brecourt, and all the info I found out will be made public in due course

I found Bill a pleasure to be with, sure he's a little "rough around the edges", but he just reminds me of my East End of London relatives.

I had a great day, indeed I even made the cover of the local newspaper here chatting to Bill

Hi all!

Tanya and I just returned from Bastogne where we had the honor to meet Bill and Babe. We initially tried to stay back and watch from afar, but were welcomed by all to share a few moments with them. We may head back in the morning to view the ceremony at the Easy Company Monument that we were invited back to see.


Tom

(FIWI, It was a pleasure to meet you as well!)

If you were with Filip, than we shook hands outside a hotel.

Regards,

Frank

Frank

Not sure if we met or not. We were not actually with Filip but met him at the the Museum and then again later at the diner. It is possible we did meet though. We were seated behind Ian and Colin.
We did get the opportunity to travel the two hours back to Bastogne this morning for the ceremony. Filip did a great job as emcee.
It was nice to see Babe and Bill again and we were pleased to have been invited back! What an honor!

Tom and Tanya

Did you wear a cap with 309 on it? I was wearing a 101 cap, one of my friends wear a 82 Airborne cap and another friend a Discovery channel cap.

I will post a report and pictures later. It was outstanding. Filip did a great job. It was very nice to see a WBG member as the leader of the ceremony.

Frank

Hi everyone, Just wanted to share some pictures taken when Bill and Babe visited Aldbourne this week. My son Sam is just nine years old but Bill and Babe are his true heros (mine as well) We live in Aldbourne and have had the pleasure of meeting many visiting Easy vets, but these two have to be the nicest guys. They spent a few hours in Aldbourne and time chatting to my son Sam. When Bill spotted Sam on the end of an inspection line of re-enactors he was visibly surprised. The most emotional part was when Bill removed his jump wings from his cap and had them given to Sam and put on Sams Overseas cap. Babe chatted to Sam and even gave him a £10 note and $5 incase Sam ever visits the states. To say I was close to tears would not be over doing it. There is a lot of talk on forums that this will be the last time these guys visit Europe but Babe told us that they will keep coming back as long as their health allows. Please feel free to check out the photos in my photobucket and the press article in our County newspaper. Bill and Babe will always be welcome in Aldbourne, Sam has two tough mates now so no messing with him.

Photos here
http://s44.photobucket.com/albums/f45/aldb...20Visit%202006/

Press report here http://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/hea...for_you_son.php

Wonderful news!

Terrific story, photos, and article! Good for Sam and good for you to have raised him with an appreciation of these men. What keeper photos and memories he'll have.

Great to see Bill and Babe looking so full of vim. Glad they were on our side.

Terrific story, Aldbourne. I've bookmarked your PhotoBucket page. I see you have a photo series from Frank Perconte's visit in May.
I can just hear Bill and Babe talking to your Sam. They never lose sight of two things -- why they went to war (for you and me and Sam) and the men who never came home (Sam will carry their history forward).

Thanks very much. I'm so glad you found these pages, so we can have your record of the visit here for others to follow. Welcome aboard, BK

Frank

Yes I was wearing the 309th AS (Airlift Squadron) cap. Tanya was wearing the POW/MIA T-Shirt. I think I remember you from the restaurant where we ate earlier in the evening. We will have to introduce ourselves the next time we meet up at the same event.

I was proud for Filip. We had only met for the first time yesterday as well. If your ever down in the direction of Mons let us know and maybe I can work out a tour of our airbase here.

It was very nice to see the large turn out and efforts to honor Bill and Babe. We were very pleased at the way these men (and others like them) are respected.

As a current U.S. serviceman stationed over here it makes me happy for the way your countries support us. My family and I thank all of you!

Tom

Hi everyone,

I was there too in Bastogne today, Bill and Babe received a moving and honorable tribute...I'd like to say "Fiwi for Mayor of Bastogne"!!!

Frank, how come we lost eachother out of sight so soon

I'll post some pictures soon

Great photos and story Aldbourne! I was taken aback with the picture of Babe handing the currency to Sam - Sam looks the like the Dutch boy in the "Replacements" episode that comes out of the cellar when Hoobs, Web and van Klinken arrive at their house looking for food and shelter.

God Bless them, the boys look good!

Lisa Marie

Fiwi, How was the ride for the boys?

Here's a link to my photobucket with photos of Bill and Babe's visit to Bastogne yesterday. Enjoy

http://s20.photobucket.com/albums/b217/cau...astogne%202006/

Very nice pictures Linda. Thank you for posting them. It would have been nice to have met you. Maybe next time.

Tom and Tanya

Lovely photos, Linda. The ones of Babe being comforted by Trisha brought tears to my eyes...

Matt (is that right?),

I bet Sam's had the time of his life. Lovely photos.

I read the article as well. I'm wondering when I can have my won watch the series. He'll be 7 in January.

Nathalie

Thank you, Jaf, for telling us your story. Good one!! I had a good laugh.

Arlene is not "plugged-in". I encouraged her to though, and I'm sure Gino could help her (hint, hint). Maybe someone will forward her your message.

Mmm.. May I know your real name??
(it bothers me to call you Jafa now knowing what it means)

Nathalie

Hi Nathalie,
Sam watched BoB for the first time last year when he was 7. It is a difficult one to call as on the whole it is not suitable for young children. That said the history lesson is so valuable that I decided to allow Sam to watch the series on DVD supervised by me. This allowed me to explain certain parts in more detail and allow Sam an understanding of the sacrifices made by the men and women of WWII. This has paid off as Sam has a huge respect for all WWII veterans and a sincere gratitude for what they did.
Sam cried during the episode when Wild Bill lost his leg, it made me feel bad. The lesson was very real Sam could see for the first time that war is real and not a reset button on a Sony Play Station. I feel it is down to the parents to ensure the message is passed on to the 4th generation. Take it steady to start with and only introduce your son to BoB if you feel he is ready. The History Channels on TV are a good start and Sam watches these alot. Take care, Matt

I didnt get to see Bill and Babe but on Thursday last week, I and Londo happened to be in Aldbourne when Paul Rogers arrived. He chatted to people happily for sometime, and I was very pleased that he seemed to be enjoying every minute of it.

Hello Matt, I was again in Aldbourne only this morning on the way back home from my trip. I suppose it makes you my nearest WBG member.