Oscar F Prasse Jr

Military

Oscar Frederick Prasse Jr, born 1 October 1924 in Richmond, Virginia, enlisted in the Army on 20 October 1942 in Dallas, Texas.



At about 2:20 AM on 6 June 1944 (D-Day), Prasse jumped from C-53 Skytrooper #42-68698 of the 49th Troop Carrier Squadron, piloted by 1st Lieutenant Samuel M Willis Jr, as part of Stick 8, Serial 22.



Prasse landed near the village of La Vienville, just south of Drop Zone ‘N’, along with his good friend and fellow Mortar Platoon member Private First Class Joe Bressler, who had broken his ankle in the landing (Bressler jumped from C-53 Skytrooper #42-68700 as part of Stick 6, Serial 22).



When the commander of the 1st Battalion, Major Shields Warren, announced that they could not take injured and wounded with them as they made their way to Hill 30, he gave them the option of either surrendering to the Germans or hiding until relief came. Determined not to leave his friend behind, Prasse opted to carry Bressler on his back so that they could both stay with the 200-strong group of paratroopers, but when a firefight erupted with the Germans, Bressler was left on his own. Prasse returned for his friend later in the evening and carried him to a nearby farmhouse in Saint André à Picauville which had been temporarily vacated by its occupants, the LeGrand family. For the next five days, the two friends hid in the top floor of the house, with Prasse fending off any Germans that passed by as well as venturing out to find food.



Prasse and Bressler were eventually relieved by a combat patrol from the 90th Infantry Division. Prasse's pack was left in the house, along with a 100 franc note left by Bressler as a thank you to the LeGrand family. Both men fought side-by-side again during Operation Market Garden and then during the Battle of the Bulge, with both surviving the war. Prasse passed away on 19 June 1993.

Connections

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Units served with

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: C-53 Skytrooper
  • Unit: 313th Troop Carrier Group 49th Troop Carrier Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Richmond, Virginia 1 October 1924

Died

19 June 1993

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources