Posted by Dayton Turner I am mostly trying to find what his actual role was on D-Day. As a 1st Louie, it seems highly probable that he was a platoon leader. Having determined that he was not in Baker Company and having identified two of the three platoon leaders in Charlie Company, mathmatics suggests that he was most likely in Able Company. However, even the structure of Able Company seems somewhat difficult to ascertain since it also included eight Stuart tanks in addition to the regular Company compliment of 16 M-4 DD Shermans.
on 4/28/2005, 4:04 pm
24.21.69.100
This is my second post trying to find if there is anyone left who remembers 1st Lt. Donald Floyd Turner who died at Omaha Beach on D-Day serving as a tank commander with the 743rd Tank Battalion. I have contacted the Military Personnel Division and they conclude that with the loss of their records in the St. Louis fire, I now know far more about him than they do.
With the overall rag-tag structure of the 743rd brought about by the losses in training exercises and knowing that most of the soldiers knew very few people outside of their own tank, I know this late date provides little chance that there is any left who knew him -- but this the only shot I have.
I have copies of both the Faulkner book and the History of the 743rd, but the only mention of Lt. Turner is his name and rank listed as a D-Day casualty.
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