News commentator Paul Harvey had a long-running radio program entitled “The Rest of the Story.” He ended almost every broadcast with, “And now you know…the rest of the story.”
In a previous column, I wrote about a class during my college days when an Army Ranger D-Day survivor spoke with us. He was one of the brave men forever positively branded by former President Reagan as the boys of Pointe Du Hoc.
When I wrote that column, I could not remember his name, only his story. That set off an incredible series of coincidences that started when Talbot County resident Rich Harrison read the commentary and shared it with Richard Merrill, another Talbot County resident.
Merrill, in turn, contacted me, suggesting he might be able to help find the name of that Army Ranger. He was in a unique position to do so. In 1984, he and his father attended Reagan’s D-Day speech. Richard’s father was a Captain in the 2nd Ranger Battalion and had assembled a treasure trove of information on the boys of Pointe Du Hoc. Richard is also a friend of French citizen and patriot Frank Maurouard. Frank lives near Pointe Du Hoc and has spent a lifetime remembering and honoring the US Army Rangers from D-Day.
With Frank’s help, Richard launched a search for the name of the speaker I heard more than half a century ago. Their search immediately zeroed in on Sergeant Jack E. Kuhn, a resident of Altoona, Pennsylvania.
They put me in touch with retired Army Command Sergeant Major Joe Kiern, a long-time friend of Jack Kuhn. Joe confirmed it was Jack who was the inspiration for my commentary.
About their D-Day mission, General Omar Bradley said the assault on Pointe Du Hoc was the most impossible mission he had ever issued to soldiers under his command.
After achieving the impossible and successfully scaling Pointe Du Hoc, Jack Kuhn and fellow Army Ranger Len Lommell discovered and destroyed a battery of six 155mm cannons of the German Army hidden in an orchard behind Pointe Du Hoc.
Prior to D-Day, the Germans had pulled them back, but from the orchard, they still had the potential to wreak havoc on the vulnerable Allied troops on Omaha and Utah beaches, as well as the Allied naval armada in the English Channel.
Had Jack Kuhn and Len Lommel had not scaled the cliffs, had not located the hidden cannons, and had not disabled them, the outcome of D-Day could have been a disaster, instead of playing a pivotal role as the beginning of the end of World War II in Europe.
As incredible as the scaling of the cliffs at Pointe Du Hoc was, Jack Kuhn and Ken Lommell were also involved in combat action at “Hill 400”. At Hill 400 several dozen Rangers prevented hundreds of German soldiers from seizing control of this critical military position.
To a man, the Army Rangers involved in the scaling of Pointe Du Hoc considered holding Hill 400 to be their most difficult mission ever. They said their longest day was not D-Day but their successful efforts to maintain Allied control of Hill 400. As a result of their efforts, other Allied troops were able to continue their march through France and into Germany.
From his 2002 obituary and other sources, I learned Jack Kuhn received two Silver Stars, a Bronze Star, a Croix De Guerre from France, and the British Medal of Valor. Silver Stars are the United States Armed Force’s third-highest medal for valor in combat and gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States. The French Croix de Guerre is awarded to those who distinguish themselves by acts of heroism involving combat.
True to his humble nature, Jack never mentioned those honors when I heard him speak. In fact, I vividly remember him saying “I didn’t do anything special. I was not a hero.” On the teamwork that led to a successful mission, he never said “I did.” “He always said “We did.”
After World War II, Jack served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War. He also served in the Altoona Police Department where he worked his way through the ranks and retired as Chief of Police.
Another classic case of the greatest generation returning home to continue their life without ever expecting or seeking recognition or fame.
Fame did seek Jack in 1994 when he was inducted into the U. S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame. This organization honors and preserves the contributions of America’s Army Rangers. When evaluating Hall of Fame admission only the most extraordinary Rangers are inducted.
When my college classmates and I heard Jack speak, we told him he was a hero. Based on the research to write this commentary he is an even greater hero than we ever fully realized
Final notes of appreciation…
Writing this commentary would not have happened without the sustained collaborative efforts of Rich Harrison, Richard Merrill, Frank Maurouard, and Joe Kiern.
As noted previously earlier, Joe confirmed that Jack Kuhn was indeed the man who inspired my commentary.
Joe has since sent me a huge amount of information on D – Day for this commentary.
Joe is also the driving force behind the Kiern Family World War II Museum at Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania. The museum includes a permanent exhibition honoring all the Rangers at Pointe Du Hoc. It also includes Joe’s donation of his vast collection of World War II memorabilia. I hope to visit it someday.
For now, I know, and you know the rest of the story on the boys of Pointe Du Hoc.
David Reel is a public affairs and public relations consultant who lives in Easton.
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