The tomb of First Lieutenant Paul A. Swank

 Second World War 1939-1945, cemetery

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On the 17th August 1944, as part of an allied operation to assist the 'Maquis', Five Americans including Swank and 18 Maquis fighters were to cover a road that lead to the nearby town of Couiza in preparation for a raid on a German food warehouse in the town. Upon hearing that the enemy was coming up the road, Swank decided to block the road by blasting rock from the cliff but it wasn't enough to completely block the road. Knowing they couldn't hold back the German force, he ordered a withdrawal into the hills while he and the other Americans gave covering fire. Swank was seriously wounded during this firefight but continued fighting until he was killed at point-blank range by a German officer. He was repatriated to America until 1977 when he was reburied at the spot where he was killed as per his wish.
www.midi-france.info/1016_ww2.htm
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