Benjamin H. Vandervoort
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Benjamin Hayes "Vandy" Vandervoort (*3rd March 1917 in Gasport, New York; † 22nd November 1990) was an American soldier with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, who fought in World War II. He was twice awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.
After his service as a lieutenant in the infantry, he joined the newly established paratroopers in the summer of 1940. He became a member of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division, when it was created.
Capt. Vandervoort was the S-3 of 505th commander Col. James M. Gavin when the regiment was dropped over Sicily during the Operation Husky. Later he was made a company commander in the same regiment. After being promoted on 2nd June 1944 to Lieutenant Colonel, he commanded the 2nd Battalion, 505th PIR and led it in the American airborne landings in Normandy and in Operation Market Garden. General Matthew B. Ridgway described Vandervoort one time as ”[...] one of the bravest and toughest battle commanders I ever knew”.[1] In Goronne he was wounded by mortar fire, so that he was unable to take part in the divisions' pursuit to Germany. In 1946 Vandervoort retired from the U.S. Army.
After he left the army Vandervoort worked for the CIA.[2] He also established a family of his own. With his wife Nedra he had two children; a son and a daughter. Vandervoort was portrayed by actor John Wayne in the movie version of Cornelius Ryan's history of D-Day, The Longest Day. The role was actively sought by Charlton Heston but the last-minute decision of John Wayne to take a role in the film prevented Heston from participating.
Benjamin Vandervoort died on the 22nd November 1990 at the age of 73 years at a nursing home from the effects of a fall.
[edit] Literature
- Michel de Trez: Col. Ben Vandervoort "Vandy" 0-22715 (Way We Were), D-Day Publishing, 2004, ISBN 2-9600176-7-6
[edit] External links
- Informations
- Article in the New York Times
- [PDF] Briefing Conference - Operation Neptune
- Informations on "Vandy" (French)
