Memorial

Biography

http://www.bensavelkoul.nl/Buddy_Dukeman.htm

More information

In August of 1942 when Buddy and his best friend Everett Gray went to the State of California. Here they saw the ocean for the first time and submitted an application to join the army. When Buddy and Everett heard about the new Airborne Division and the extra 50 dollars a month their choice was made pretty fast. They decided to join the Airborne Division and after signing the necessary papers, the training began. He trained to become a paratrooper in Camp Toccoa, Georgia. In Camp Toccoa Buddy and Everett were part of E-Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Division. They were both part of the first group of soldiers since the foundation of E-Company. These first soldiers are also known as "Toccoa-men".

The 35 men of Easy Company faced opposition there by chance and were instructed to attack. They come face to face with two German companies. Panic broke out amongst the Germans, who lost fifty men, nearly one third of both companies.

Out of range of the German fire, Winters radioed for the rest of the 1st platoon, including the attached light machine gun section, to join them. As they waited for reinforcements, dawn began to break. Sgt William Dukeman emerged from the ditch to order his men to disperse. At that moment, hidden Germans who had crawled through the culvert under the dike fired a rifle grenade. The explosion sent a deadly fragment through Dukeman's shoulder and into his heart. The paratroopers immediately emptied their M1 Garand rifles into the culvert, killing three Germans.