Memorial to Major Oliver M. Horton, 506th PIR

This is one of several Memorials in the town of Opheusden, where the 101st Airborne Division fought what the Divisional History (Rendezvous with Destiny) calls the largest single battle in the Island campaign. The Island was the area north of the Waal and below the Rhine that was still in German hands after the failure of Operation Market Garden. The 101st took over here from the 43rd Wessex Division in early October 1944 and this front was allocated to the 506th PIR whose 3rd Battalion was commanded by Major Horton. He was fatally wounded on 5 October. The German opposition, by the 363rd Volkesgrenadier Division, was fierce, and after ten days of bitter struggle the History records - The 363rd had been virtually wiped out. Giving up all hope of a breakthrough on The Island, the Germans fell back 2, 400 yards. Both sides settled down to patrolling the no-mans land thus created

101st 43rd Airborne Allocated Bitter Breakthrough Calls Commanded Destiny Divisional Failed Failure Fatally Fought Horton Memorials Opposition Patrolling Rendezvous Settled Thus Virtually Waal Wessex Wiped Yards

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