Memorial to American Joe Man, Medal of Honor, Best
Operation Market Garden, which began on 17 September 1944, was a combined air and land attack during which river bridges were to be captured from the air ahead of an advancing armoured force.This general area north of Eindhoven in Holland was the responsibility of General Maxwell Taylor's 101st Airborne Division, whose 502nd PIR were sent to capture the bridge at Best. A bloody confrontation, including hand to hand combat, took place between the Americans and 1, 000 Germans of 15th Army. Despite re-inforcements from the British 2nd Household Cavalry Regiment around 1100 hours on the 18th, the bridge was blown and the fighting continued for some days. In the small wooded area where the Memorial stands the Americans defended a circular position that cost them 78 men killed and the Germans lost 300 and in this action Joe Mann threw himself onto a Germam grenade to save his comrades. He was killed, and later was awarded the Medal of Honor for his self-sacrifice. The Memorial, designed by A. Jacobs, was unveiled in 1984 by Joe's sister, Irene Bennett Mann
