PFC Darrell M. Meek

Source: Family Search, courtesy of G. Pratt.

Private First Class (PFC) Darrell Marshall Meek of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), 101st Airborne Division, was born in Lamesa, Dawson County, Texas, to Harry M. and Emily E. (Ussery) Meek on September 6, 1924. Darrell was the youngest of their children. He had two older sisters, Mary U. “Dids” (Meek) Nelson, and Margaretta R. Meek.

It was his father’s second marriage, and Darrell had one half-brother and three half-sisters from his father's first marriage. His father passed away on March 25, 1938, at age 60. 

Darrell signed up for the draft on December 18, 1942, while still a student at the local high school in his hometown. The NARA archives did not have his enlistment records, but he was assigned to the 501st PIR. 

The main events of the Battle for Carentan took place from June 10 to 14, 1944. The aim was to consolidate the beachheads by establishing a continuous defensive line, preventing the Germans from launching a counterattack toward UTAH and OMAHA beaches. All the regiments in the 101st Airborne Division were involved in the attack. 

On June 12, the 501st was ordered to take Hill 30, which lies to the south of Carentan. The Germans flooded the area, and the regiment encountered stiff resistance after crossing the Vire-Taute Canal in its attempt to take the hill. The attack was made initially by its 3rd battalion, with the 2nd battalion following in its wake, then later advancing abreast of each other. It was a dogfight, resulting in many casualties, and a substantial amount of artillery fire at close range was required to break the German resistance.

Once the 3rd Battalion was able to push the Germans from the hilltop, it moved down to a little settlement, La Billonnerie, where a defensive line was set up to meet the expected German counterattack towards Carentan. To reinforce the 3rd Battalion’s frontline, the 2nd Battalion came down the highway from Carentan and deployed astride the road. It was during the attack of that day, or when Easy Company was involved in the heavy actions after the capture of Hill 30, that PFC Meek was killed in action during the heavy battles that took place.

Another Screaming Eagle had soared to the ultimate height. 🦅

On June 12, 1944, PFC Darrell Meek died at the age of 19. He was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart Medal. After his initial burial in the temporary military cemetery Sainte-Mère-Église No. 1 in Normandy, he was permanently interred in the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, at Plot F, Row 15, Grave 43. He is remembered at the Dawson County Cemetery in Texas. May he rest in peace.

Happy Birthday in Heaven, Darrell.

Lest we forget. 🇺🇸

Source: Find a Grave, courtesy of David Sifford.

Sources:

Family Search

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56087931/darrell_marshall-meek 

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/29235825/darrell_marshall-meek

Rendezvous with Destiny by Rapport and Norwood (p. 231 – 322)