A Thousand Country Roads

We Made it to the Top of Currahee Mountain

January 22, 2015 in History, Road Trip

…and thankfully, we didn’t have to run. That’s a good thing seeing that we’re neither runners or mountain climbers. But, you may wonder, why anyone would run up a mountain. In the case of this mountain, that’s a part of its history beginning in 1942 when men reported to Camp Toccoa, Georgia to begin their training as paratroopers. And as part of their regimen, running up and down the mountain became a daily occurrence. From that experience came a quote and legacy they shared: “Three miles up – three miles down!”

Currahee Mountain

I would have never heard of Currahee Mountain if not for the great book written by Stephen Ambrose, Band of Brothers, telling the story of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), 101st Airborne Division. That was followed by a miniseries directed by Stephen Spielberg and Tom Hanks.

Currahee is taken from the Cherokee word quu-wa-hi meaning “stand alone.” That fits perfectly with the job these paratroopers later did, dropping behind enemy lines ahead of other troops. They were some of the first in on the sixth of June, D-Day, and later on in Operation Market Garden, a story that was told in the movie A Bridge Too Far. And what a job they did on those occasions, as well as the amazing stand they made during the Battle of the Bulge. One thing’s for sure, all the running they did up and down that mountain made them rough and tough and up to the task of being warriors. Currahee also became the motto of the 506th PIR.

The reason we found ourselves there was my love of history, and sharing it with my wife and son. My son was especially interested. I have a copy of the miniseries and after Lynndee and Yogi arrived here from the Philippines, Yogi probably watched the DVDs a dozen times, and when I suggested we make the trip, he was ecstatic. But life can be tricky. As the Scottish poet Robert Burns said, “The best-laid schemes o’ mice an ‘men Gang aft agley…” Unfortunately, our first attempt was shot down in flames about fifteen miles down the road from our home: our SUV threw its timing belt. But at least we weren’t on the road. I had to stop for a cup of coffee and it wouldn’t start back up. But that made it even more fitting for the next time we chose to do the trek: Memorial Day weekend.

Lynndee and Yogi ready to explore
The first place we went on arriving in Toccoa was the Currahee Military Museum. It’s located at the site of the old train depot where the incoming recruits arrived before making their way to Camp Toccoa. The Museum displays photos, documents and memorabilia from WWII. Also included is an actual stable that housed members of the division before and after D-Day, shipped from Aldbourne, England, a true piece of history.

After visiting the museum, we were off on a real adventure, ready to do our “three mile up – three mile down” run on Currahee, though ours would be done sitting inside our SUV. And what a drive it was! The road was bumpy, graveled but not well maintained, though there are radio towers at the top, including a NOAA Weather Radio station. Back in the day, the recruits would make it to the top of the mountain, go up a set of rock steps, circle a metal fire tower and then run the three miles back down. In the miniseries, it also showed them slapping their hand on a rock as a sign of having made it all the way up. In this day and age, is it any wonder that we found the rock covered with graffiti. Still, it was a magnificent sight, and the view from the top was astounding.
The rock at the top
The view from the top of the world

Not only did the 506th PIR train at Camp Toccoa and battle the climb up Currahee, but it was also the training area for the 501st, 511th and 519th PIR’s. And an interesting aside, Rod Serling, the creator of the Twilight Zone, was a member of the 511th PIR and took part in the liberation of the Philippines, my wife’s home country. And from his experiences, he wrote a couple of powerful Zone episodes exploring war and how some men deal with it.

Right after the war, Camp Toccoa was dismantled. All that’s left are a few roads and curbs, some fire hydrants, a well house, a water tank, and a block building that was used as a recreation center or bunk house. Still, there is a memorial marker to show the general area where the camp was located.

 Yogi at attention
Memorial honoring all the regiments that trained at Toccoa
Memorial Markers:
On the left, the 506th of which Easy Company was a part of.

On the right, the 511th, the Twilight Zone’s Rod Serling’s outfit.
 

On the drive home, I couldn’t help but reflect upon what those guys went through, not only in their training but in the war they fought afterwards. They exemplified  the true definition of heroes. Unfortunately, they will soon all be gone. Just in the past year, two of the main characters portrayed in the miniseries passed away, William “Wild Bill” Guarnere and Edward “Babe” Heffron, both at the age of ninety. They were both from south Philadelphia and lived just blocks from each other but had never met until they came together in Easy company. But after the war, never a day went by that they didn’t at least call each other. Before their deaths, they collaborated on a book, Brothers in Battle, Best of Friends: Two WWII Paratroopers from the Original Band of Brothers Tell Their Story. I read that as well as another one called Shifty’s War, chronicling the story of Darrell “Shifty” Powers, Easy Company’s marksman. Published after his death, though a biography, it reads like an autobiography because it’s written as if in the first person, the author Marcus Brothertonusing all his notes from the interviews he did with Shifty to tell his story. 

Just recently, I ran across the fact that only six veterans of that band of brothers of Easy Company, originally about 150 troopers, remain alive. Yes, time does march on and history passes away just as those that made it do. Still, I will never forget those guys and I will do all I can to keep their memory alive. Though most of them have moved on, I can at least say thanks, guys, for a job well done. And what better way to close out and pay homage to them than by saying, CURRAHEE!

Previous We Had a Hot Time in “Hot ‘Lanta”: Part 1
Next A Circle Completed: Toccoa Falls

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About Harry

There's really nothing special to share about me. I'm a simple man who leads a simple life, still in search of knowledge and the enlightenment it gives to my still-growing mind. And I do believe in magic, for it is out there, waiting to be discovered by those whose hearts and minds are open to the possibility, and whose eyes are willing to look past the obvious and seek the realm of the mystical. As I once read in a description of my traits based on my birthdate, I'm a dreamer of dreams, a teller of tales whose mystic mind knows that truth prevails. And as the great poet Robert Frost said:
"...I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."

Reader Interactions

Comments

    • Harry says

      I’m sure they’d enjoy it, especially if they’re like I was when I was a boy with a love of military things, before I ever even knew the entire history of it all.

    • Harry says

      Thanks, Angela. It truly is peaceful and beautiful, which is ironic when you think back on what the guys there were training for.

  7. Sharon Ruggieri says

    Wow…just wow. I loved watching band of brothers and learning about how these men lived and died. I so want to do what you did. You just can’t help but admire these men

    • Harry says

      So true, Sharon. All those guys from what is called the “Greatest Generation” have been my heroes since I was a kid. I, too, loved that miniseries, as well as the next one Hanks and Spielberg produced, “The Pacific”. Unfortunately, it’s not as easy to travel to those places. The Pacific is huge and I have been to three of those sites, the Philippines, Guam and Japan, but to actually go to those other tiny islands where brutal battles were waged is almost impossible.

  9. Rebecca Swenor says

    This is an awesome story indeed. I love learning history and visiting places that made a mark during different eras. This sounds like an interesting adventure you all had and good think you stopped the first time for coffee. I would love to visit Currahee Mountain some day. Thanks for sharing.

    • Harry says

      Happy to share, Rebecca. I love history and it pleases me to know that other people appreciate it as well. And for sure, it was a good thing I stopped for coffee; if it had thrown the belt while moving down the highway, it would most likely have destroyed the engine valves. As it was, it just got one and we were able to get it repaired. Hopefully, you’ll get the chance to visit there one day.

    • Harry says

      Yeah, it was so cool to actually be standing on the ground it actually happened at and think back on the miniseries. Hopefully, you will get to see it some day if you ever make it down this way.

    • Harry says

      Thanks, Margarita. I’m glad you enjoyed it. It’s definitely a great story to see portrayed on the screen, done in a very historically accurate way.

  15. joy says

    What a great way to encourage your child’s love of history. Reading about something then seeing it in person is always so much fun. I bet he loved it!

    • Harry says

      Yepper, he did love it. And I’ve also tried to teach him some of the history of his home country, the Philippines, because he was still so young when he and his mom arrived here in the US and he had as of yet not got to learn much of that history.

  16. Chrystal Mahan says

    What an awesome hike. I think it’s great that you teach your children about history and when you can see it in person it makes it that much more amazing. Hiking is such a good workout. Beautiful view!

  17. MikiHope says

    What a beautifully written post this is. The history of this place definitely interests me. I can guarantee I will never run up or down that mountain nor would I chance driving it. But I will never forget the men who did in order to protect not only those they loved but others as well.

    • Harry says

      Thank you, Miki; I’m glad you enjoyed it. For sure, I’d never try that run, though I’m sure I could do it. As for the driving, it was no biggie; just a rough and bumpy ride, nothing compared to driving up Pike’s Peak which I did and that was a wee bit daunting. But I too will never forget those men and all the others of that “Greatest Generation”. We owe them greatly, and the least I can do is continue sharing their legacy.

    • Harry says

      Yeah, a lot of mountains in South Korea, though I’ve never been there. But I know of that history and I’d love to see it someday.

    • Harry says

      I see you live in the Midwest, flat lands of wheat and corn fields. Been there and seen it, but I always love coming home to my mountains. But I’m sure you’d love seeing it here, and seeing a historic place like Currahee. Hopefully, one day you’ll get the opportunity.