Description:

ON PVT. JOHN STEELE, SUSPENDED ABOVE SAINTE-MERE EGLISE
The 'Steele Chapel' refers to the church in Sainte-Mere-Eglise, France where Pvt. John Steele, a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division, became iconic during D-Day. His parachute snagged on the church's steeple, leaving him dangling for hours before being captured and later escaping. The church and the town are associated with this event, and a mannequin is displayed on the steeple to commemorate Steele's ordeal. Superb content A.L.S. by a fellow member of the 82nd Airborne who was one of the very few paratroopers who landed in the town square, actually also on the roof of the church, along with Steele, 3pp. 4to., Louisville, Tn., Dec. 20, 1986. In this revealing letter, Russell describes the events of the night of June 5-6, 1944 at the famous church, and after. In part: '...He [Steele] really squeezed all the publicity possible out of his land[ing] in France. In In fact John Ray and myself also landed on the Church. Ray bounced off the church and was killed by a German soldier, and was coming around the Church to shoot Steele and myself. Ray. was still in his parachute but after being shot he managed to get his '45' pistol out and kill the German. I cut myself free and dropped to the ground, but Steele was so entangled no one could help him. Steele was cut down by the Germans and taken prisoner - but the unit re-captured him from the enemy a few days later. As far as Steele's exploits in combat, it is most amusing - the guys laugh and joke at the conventions now that John was the only combat soldier who ever went to war, never fired a shot and came back a hero. His first combat primp in the invasion of Sicily he broke a leg on the jump and was takes back to the hospital...He missed the Italy jump and then the episode on D-Day...he was the best publicity man I've met- but we all loved the fellow...'

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June 26, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
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$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000