Harrison C. Summers

Harrison C. Summers (July 12, 1918–August 3, 1983) was a paratrooper during World War II who fought with the 1st Battalion, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division on D-Day.

A Staff Sergeant at the time, he landed as part of the first night drop of troops during the American airborne landings in Normandy on June 6, 1944. His unit took the town of Saint-Germain-de-Varreville, near Exit 4 off Utah Beach. He, along with about 15 men of various units, was ordered by 1st Battalion commander, Lt Col. Patrick Cassidy, to take a group of buildings nearby designated "XYZ" on the field order map. The buildings turned out to be the barracks for 100 or more German troops.

Summers led the attack, charging inside with his Thompson submachine gun. He assumed the others would follow, but they did not. He proceeded on, first single-handedly then with Private Camien's help, through each of the buildings, cleaning them out. Five hours later, the position was clear, and over 30 bodies of German troops were counted.

For his efforts that day, Summers was later nominated for the Medal of Honor, but was given the Distinguished Service Cross instead. He also received a field promotion to lieutenant. Summers was at one point briefly mentioned to have participated in "Cole's Charge" according to an unlockable in .

WWII historian Stephen Ambrose described him this way: "Summers is a legend with American paratroopers ..., the Sergeant York of World War II. His story has too much John Wayne/Hollywood in it to be believed, except that more than 10 men saw and reported his exploits."

Summers also saw combat in Holland and Belgium later in the war.

Summers was born in Catawba, West Virginia. In civilian life, Summers worked in the coal mines in Rivesville, West Virginia. A highway bridge there is named in his honor. He died of lung cancer in 1983. Friends attempted to get the Medal of Honor awarded after his death, but the effort failed.

Plastic Action Figure

Harrison C. Summers was molded into a toy soldier by the company BMC. He is shown leaning with his Thompson SMG held close to his body. His figure was included in the D-Day set of troops.

Dramatizations

*"", in which the character Sergeant Matt Baker is modelled on Summers and XYZ, as well as Purple Heart Lane/Cole's Charge.

References

* [http://www.army.mil/cmh/books/wwii/7-4/7-4_cont.htm "Cross-Channel Attack"] an official U.S. Military History
* "D-Day June 6, 1944: The Climactic Battle of World War II", Stephen Ambrose, Simon & Schuster, 1994, ISBN 0-684-80137-X