Little, Augustine Patterson, Jr., Col

This Remembrance is based upon and credited to research done by USMF member "dplittle" (user name) the grandson of this officer was, and who published some research which may be seen at this link: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=62887&hl=

-------- "My grandfather was Col Augustine Patterson Little, 922nd EAR CO.

He was killed in action at Le Bourget Airfield during the liberation of Paris.

He graduated from West Point in 1937, obtained a Master's degree from MIT and helped form the 8th Air Force here in Savannah.

He specialized in building airfields and first commanded the 814th Engineer Aviation Battalion (EAB) through North Africa, Sicily and into Italy.

In early 1944 he was recalled to England to take command of the 922nd Engineer Aviation Regiment (EAR) and prepare it for the Normandy invasion.

He landed on 7 June at Omaha Beach and was responsible for commanding all aviation engineer efforts behind Omaha until the IX Engineer Command HQ company arrived. One of his units, the 834th EAB, built the first full airfield on European soil following the invasion within a day of landing.

I have a website dedicated to the men of the IX Engineer Command and I have been collecting documents, effects and materials related to the Command. I am working to put as many of these documents online and available to other researchers. I am also collecting and sharing period films from the National Archives here. The centerpiece of my collection is the only known extant copy of the Command's Operation Neptune plan... These units were a very interesting breed. No one really adopted them but everyone wanted them. Most of the men in the EABs felt VERY strongly that they were engineers but were attached to the Army Air Corp. None of the men I've ever talked to ever wanted to be confused with aviation engineers who worked on the planes.

However, in all the photos of my grandfather that I have of him in uniform, he wore AAC insignia (even though he graduated from West Point and was commissioned into the Corp of Engineers). I believe he chose those since I know he really wanted to be a flyer. He did do some flying in the ETO from one airfield construction site to another. In fact, he flew into Orly in a small observation plane on the day he was mortally wounded." ----------

Link to 9th Engineering Command website authored by "dplittle": http://ixengineercommand.com/ ----------- Augustine Patterson Little, Jr.

World War II Memorial Honoree Augustine Patterson Little, Jr. (Pat) was born on 17 November 1914 in Louisville, Ga. to Augustine Patterson Little ("Gus") and Laura Landrum Lee ("Miss Laura"). He was the second of three children and the only boy. He was an excellent student and graduated from high school a year early (at the age of 14). His ambition was to attend Georgia Tech for an engineering degree, but family finances made that impossible. To ensure that his younger sister could also attend college, he sought a free education at West Point. Family legend says he memorized the eye chart in order to pass the physical. AP Little and Martha Fielis at West Point Pat attended the University of Georgia for two years before receiving an invitation to the United States Military Academy at West Point. It was at UGA that he met his future bride, Martha Helen Fielis, of Jackson Heights, NY. They continued their relationship during weekends at West Point, at dances and on Flirtation Walk. Pat had a typically difficult but very successful career at West Point. His many letters home focus on lack of money and long hours spent studying. In one letter he explains why he spent more than his usual 30 cents per week that month, and asks his father to send a dollar. He also describes some West Point requirements that might surprise us in the 21st century: proficiency in the Fox Trot, Waltz and One-Step. He graduated in 1937, eighth in his class, and was married the next day, 13 June 1937, to Martha Fielis in the West Point Cadet Chapel. AP Little during North Africa and Sicily campaigns He was first posted to Fort Benning, GA and then to Fort Belvoir, VA. He then attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he earned his Masters Degree in Civil Engineering. In December 1941 he was briefly posted to McChord Field, WA but was called to Savannah, GA immediately after Pearl Harbor to help form the 8th Air Force. Lt Col AP Little on Omaha Beach, 7 June 1944 Col Little's first command was the 814th Engineer Aviation Battalion and he lead them during the Africa Campaign, through the Invasion of Sicily and then into Italy. During the Africa Campaign, he was awarded the Soldier's Medal and the Legion of Merit. He was then called to England to command the 922nd Engineer Aviation Regiment and led them into Europe on D-Day. He landed on D+1 and one of his battalions built the first evacuation airfield following the landings. His unit remained at the forefront of the Allies' invasion of Europe. AP Little Croix de Guerre citation It was in late August 1944 that Col Little's regiment was inspecting Le Bourget Airfield outside Paris. Portions of the airfield were still under German control and Col Little's command car came under fire. His driver was wounded and while Col Little and his XO, Lt Col Gil Hall, attempted to pull Corporal Farr to safety, both Col Little and Lt Col Hall were hit. Lt Col Hall died immediately and Col Little died two days later from his wounds. Col Little was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Croix de Guerre with Palm.