Jack Courtland (27 April 1923-?) was a US Army Private First Class who served in the 502nd Pathfinders, 3rd Squad during World War II.
Biography[]
Jack Courtland was born in Richmond, Virginia and grew up as a baseball fan. Before the war, he had hopes of someday becoming a professional baseball player - specifically the catcher for the New York Yankees. He started the war with dreams of glory and wooing French girls with his tales of valour. His eagerness to be a hero quickly faded after being lost for days in Normandy. Little else is known of his childhood, though he described having his first kiss at the age of seventeen.
When the United States entered the war and conscription was enforced in December 1942, Courtland volunteered to serve as a paratrooper, believing he would easily woo Frenchwomen with tales of glory and valour.
Flying over Normandy as part of the D-Day drops, Courtland was separated from his platoon when their glider was hit by German anti-aircraft fire. Courtland finally found Sgt. Baker on D+5 at Highway N13, a river crossing outside Saint Come-du-Mont. There, he participated in the historic "Cole's Charge", where Lt. Col. Robert Cole led a smoked charge across a field to take a farmhouse.
The platoon moved into Carentan on June 13 (D+6) and assisted in defending a church from being reused by the Germans. On the next day they encountered German reinforcements a mile southwest. While most of the platoon was pinned down by Germans in a ditch, Courtland was sent out for an unspecified mission.
Ahead of the Allied invasion of the occupied Netherlands, the entirety of 3rd Platoon was transferred to the 101st's Reconnaissance Platoon, lead by now Staff Sergeant Baker.
During Operation Market Garden. He is transferred to the special weapons team where he helps defend Connor and Jasper while reloading. He replaces Corrion as leader of the assault team due to his injury. Courtland and the rest of the team make their way through the burning Eindhoven.