Born: 1925
Reason for entering military service: Lettington was drafted into the Army in September 1942 from Des Moines
Assigned:
559th Field Artillery Battalion. This unit was used by several of the
armies that made up what was known as the 8th Corps. Lettington spent
time assigned to several of these groups including the 3rd Army, the
5th Army and the 7th Army.
Rank: Private First Class
"The Lord was with us. Instead of firing into our convoy they fired into these buildings trying to get a cave in."
Background:
As part of the 559th Field Artillery Battalion, Lettington had crossed the English Channel 17 days after D-Day in June of 1944. In December of 1944, Lettington found himself among the troops retreating from a massive German counter-attack now known as the Battle of the Bulge. By late December, his unit was getting close to the growing bulge in the line. As the German forces began to push forward the order to withdraw was given. After spotting German tanks, the men of the 559th were more than willing to comply with their orders and fall back.
Transcript
Private First Class Dean Lettington, a 19 year-old from Des Moines, had crossed the English Channel with the Units of the 7th Army, 17 days after D-Day. As part of the 559th Field Artillery Battalion, he had spent the last few months fighting across France. By late December, his unit was getting close to the growing bulge in the line. As the German forces began to push forward the order to withdraw was given. After spotting German tanks, the men of the 559th were more than willing to comply with their orders and fall back.
(Dean Lettington) To get out of there, we had to go between two big stone buildings and we actually seen those tanks fire at us as we were sitting on the truck. The Lord was with us. Instead of firing into our convoy they fired into these buildings trying to get a cave in. Well some of us got sprinkled with rocks from the building, you know, nothing really severe. But then later we realized that yeah, they didn't want to destroy our convoy, they wanted our ammunition, gasoline and possibly our guns—if we didn't get them exploded.
Links
Iowa's WWII Stories: Home Front Interviews
www.iptv.org/video/browse.cfm/tag/home%20front
Iowans who were at home had major roles to play in winning the war. Their sacrifice helped determine what kind of conditions, both political and social, would exist once the war was over.
Iowa's WWII Stories: Battlefront Interviews
www.iptv.org/video/browse.cfm/tag/battlefront
More than 276,000 Iowans went into military service during World War II. 8,398 never returned. Iowa Public Television brings you the stories of a few Iowans that did return from the battlefront.
