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Corporal Dewitt "Alabama" Lowrey was born April 22, 1922, near Atmore, Alabama, and grew up on the family farm. Lowrey served in Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, in WW2
#BandofBrothers
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#BandofBrothers
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After Pearl Harbour Dewitt tried to enlist in the Navy but was refused due to slight colorblindnesss. One day at the Post Office he saw a sign for the paratroopers and thought "Now that sounds exciting"
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He went to a recruitment officer and said "I'll join, but I don't want the regular army, I want the paratroopers, nothing else"
However, he needed his parents signature to join as at that time you needed to be over 21 to join the Airborne.
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However, he needed his parents signature to join as at that time you needed to be over 21 to join the Airborne.
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At first his mother didn't want to sign but his father said he'd be drafted in a few months anyway + maybe this way he could go where he chose. He enlisted in Aug 1942.
He was sent to Fort McPherson and then Camp Toccoa where he was placed in 2nd platoon, E Company, 506th PIR
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He was sent to Fort McPherson and then Camp Toccoa where he was placed in 2nd platoon, E Company, 506th PIR
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Dewitt made his first combat jump on DDay. He landed in a tree and had 2 machine guns firing at him. Some U.S paratropers took out the MG's but Dewitt was now cornered by a Rottweiler dog. A woman came + took the dog away eventually, but by then the other troopers had gone
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Lowrey took off edging along a hedgerow until he heard talking up ahead. He used his clicker and got the correct reponse so he started to head towards the group until he suddenly realised they were speaking German....
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There were 4 of them and Lowrey being so full of adrenaline reckoned he could take them all. He shot the first two and the others charged at him. One grabbed him but he used the knife in his boot to deal with them
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After that he met up with guys from other regiments and fought with them for several days before finding his way to Easy.
During the attack on Carentan on 12 June he was hit in the head by shrapnel. It entered his skull and left him unable to move.
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During the attack on Carentan on 12 June he was hit in the head by shrapnel. It entered his skull and left him unable to move.
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Medic Doc Roe managed to stabilize him and get him to a field hospital. He was evacuated to England and then the U.S for treatment. He would suffer from post traumatic epilepsy his whole life.
(Shadow box by Frank DeAngelis)
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(Shadow box by Frank DeAngelis)
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