Another Special grouping with a Sad Story
"Rangers Lead the Way"
"It is Hard to leave a man to die alone"
Pfc.Edward J.Neuman

Pvt.Edward J.Neuman
ser#37665331
Fayette Co.Iowa
Born:22 June 1922
KIA: 2 Dec.1944 Saar River Campaign Germany
Co.E,Special Weapons Sections
5th Ranger Bn.
I have been very fortunate in the last couple
of months in locating some very rare Purple Hearts
This was done with help from
friends in completing the groups.I received a call about three Purple Hearts for
sale and made the deal on the phone and arranged to pick them up that weekend at
a show I was attending.The one Purple Heart was the P-47 Pilot I posted
earlier,the second was a named awarded Purple Heart with multiple awardees,the
third was to a 5th Ranger KIA.I had found the D-Day 2nd Ranger KIA earlier and
posted.I contacted a forum member in France who collects Ranger and helped with
a photo on my 2nd Ranger.So,I contacted him about a photo of this latest
Ranger.A friend and forum member who had also had contacted him about a photo of
a Ranger group he owned.The response from the forum member in France went"How
Nice.I see you bought your friends Ranger group".Well,it did not take long to
figure out that we had the same items.He had the WIA Purple
Heart,certificate,effects box,note and some later family pictures.Being the
gentleman,he offered the items he had to put them back together.Class Act,Many
Thanks.
Pvt.Neuman was a Farmer and entered the military on 13 March 1943.
He volunteered for the Rangers.I am including excerpts of his Sergeant's
biography(Sgt.Victor J."Baseplate"Miller) that Neuman appears.He details
Neumans last moments on this Earth.A very sad but Honest reality of War.
We did have training in everything as well as our specialty of mortars and
machine guns. One day we practiced throwing hand grenades until there was only
one left. Eddie Neuman and I began to argue over which one of us should throw
it. Finally 1st. Sgt. Sandy Martin Jr. made the decision. "Neuman, pull the pin
and throw it to Miller and let him throw it!". Yes! Neuman pulled the pin and
tossed it to me. One is supposed to have five seconds after the handle is
released, but you may not! It seemed an eternity for the smoking object to reach
me. I didn't waste time in throwing it forward into the pit. I wouldn't repeat
that in the present time! One fumbled catch and we would have all been gone.
I have read of the grand strategy of this operation; but I know first hand
only what I saw and experienced. Our Co. E was advancing through a woods.
My special weapons section was, of course, at the rear of the line secrions.
They left the woods, crossed a railroad and entered a forest on beyond. I then slid
down an exposed bank to reach the ditch along the railroad. A sniper's bullet just
missed me. I called to hold up, but here came Sgt. Floyd sliding down also.
The sniper again just missed him. We both called to hold up, but here came
Edward Neuman. As he slid down, we heard the bullet crack and saw his jacket
flick at his stomach. We stretched him out in the ditch and examined him. He was
shot through the abdomen and the bullet then went through his arm. There was
nothing we could do. There was no aid to be had and we had to go on. We told him
he would be O.K., waited a few minutes more until we thought the sniper would
be gone, then we called to the others and raced across the tracks and on into
the woods beyond. It is hard to go off and leave one of your men to die
alone....
ser#37665331
Fayette Co.Iowa
Born:22 June 1922
KIA: 2 Dec.1944 Saar River Campaign Germany
Co.E,Special Weapons Sections
5th Ranger Bn.
I have been very fortunate in the last couple
of months in locating some very rare Purple Hearts
This was done with help from
friends in completing the groups.I received a call about three Purple Hearts for
sale and made the deal on the phone and arranged to pick them up that weekend at
a show I was attending.The one Purple Heart was the P-47 Pilot I posted
earlier,the second was a named awarded Purple Heart with multiple awardees,the
third was to a 5th Ranger KIA.I had found the D-Day 2nd Ranger KIA earlier and
posted.I contacted a forum member in France who collects Ranger and helped with
a photo on my 2nd Ranger.So,I contacted him about a photo of this latest
Ranger.A friend and forum member who had also had contacted him about a photo of
a Ranger group he owned.The response from the forum member in France went"How
Nice.I see you bought your friends Ranger group".Well,it did not take long to
figure out that we had the same items.He had the WIA Purple
Heart,certificate,effects box,note and some later family pictures.Being the
gentleman,he offered the items he had to put them back together.Class Act,Many
Thanks.
Pvt.Neuman was a Farmer and entered the military on 13 March 1943.
He volunteered for the Rangers.I am including excerpts of his Sergeant's
biography(Sgt.Victor J."Baseplate"Miller) that Neuman appears.He details
Neumans last moments on this Earth.A very sad but Honest reality of War.
We did have training in everything as well as our specialty of mortars and
machine guns. One day we practiced throwing hand grenades until there was only
one left. Eddie Neuman and I began to argue over which one of us should throw
it. Finally 1st. Sgt. Sandy Martin Jr. made the decision. "Neuman, pull the pin
and throw it to Miller and let him throw it!". Yes! Neuman pulled the pin and
tossed it to me. One is supposed to have five seconds after the handle is
released, but you may not! It seemed an eternity for the smoking object to reach
me. I didn't waste time in throwing it forward into the pit. I wouldn't repeat
that in the present time! One fumbled catch and we would have all been gone.
I have read of the grand strategy of this operation; but I know first hand
only what I saw and experienced. Our Co. E was advancing through a woods.
My special weapons section was, of course, at the rear of the line secrions.
They left the woods, crossed a railroad and entered a forest on beyond. I then slid
down an exposed bank to reach the ditch along the railroad. A sniper's bullet just
missed me. I called to hold up, but here came Sgt. Floyd sliding down also.
The sniper again just missed him. We both called to hold up, but here came
Edward Neuman. As he slid down, we heard the bullet crack and saw his jacket
flick at his stomach. We stretched him out in the ditch and examined him. He was
shot through the abdomen and the bullet then went through his arm. There was
nothing we could do. There was no aid to be had and we had to go on. We told him
he would be O.K., waited a few minutes more until we thought the sniper would
be gone, then we called to the others and raced across the tracks and on into
the woods beyond. It is hard to go off and leave one of your men to die
alone....