Memorial John R. Towle

Who is John R. Towle?
John Roderick Towle was born on 19 October 1924 in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. He grew up in a family with four children. In March 1943, shortly after his 18th birthday, he enlisted in the United States Army. He chose to become a paratrooper and was assigned to C Company of the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 82nd “All American” Airborne Division.

Operation Market Garden and the role of John R. Towle
On 17 September 1944, the Allies launched Operation Market Garden, an ambitious military operation aimed at a rapid breakthrough into Germany via the Netherlands. The operation consisted of two parts: Market (airborne operation) and Garden (ground offensive). The 82nd “All American” Airborne Division, to which John R. Towle belonged, played a crucial role in this operation: securing the bridges at Nijmegen and Grave and the bridges over the Maas-Waal Canal for the advancing Allied ground forces.

Heroic deed at Oosterhout
On 21 September 1944, during Operation Market Garden, Private Towle was with C Company in a defensive line near Oosterhout, the Netherlands. When a strong German unit, consisting of about 100 infantrymen, two tanks and a half-track, launched a counterattack, Towle took the initiative. Without orders, he left his cover and moved 200 metres under intense enemy fire to an unprotected position along the embankment of the Waaldijk. From there, he fired his rocket launcher at both tanks, which then retreated. He then eliminated nine German soldiers who had entrenched themselves in a nearby house. While reloading his rocket launcher to take out the half-track, he was fatally hit by a mortar shell. His courageous action was crucial in stopping the enemy attack, thereby saving the lives of many comrades.

Recognition and remembrance
For his extraordinary courage and sacrifice, Private John R. Towle was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration in the United States. The medal was presented to his parents on 15 March 1945 during a ceremony at Fort Knox, Kentucky. John was buried at Calvary Cemetery in his hometown of Cleveland.

The initiative to erect the monument
Until 2024, there were limited commemorations in Oosterhout specifically dedicated to John R. Towle. John R. Towle Street was officially unveiled on 21 September 2019 during the celebration of 75 years of liberation in Oosterhout. Every year, a short commemoration was held at the street sign at the intersection of John R. Towle Street and Peper Street. In 2024, a group of residents decided to erect a permanent monument to honour his heroism.

The John R. Towle monument is the result of a local citizens' initiative. The idea arose in the run-up to the 80th anniversary of Operation Market Garden in 2024, when it became clear that there was still no physical memorial to John R. Towle in Oosterhout, despite his courageous actions in this region.
A group of residents of Oosterhout joined forces in the Committee 80 Years of Liberation Oosterhout. The initiators were Paul Janssen, Nico van Kleef, Frans Spaan and Josée Stienstra. Nico van Kleef designed the monument, inspired by the symbolism of heroism, freedom and remembrance.

The monument was placed on John R. Towlestraat, at the intersection with Peperstraat. This location was chosen because of its historical significance: it is on “his street” in the immediate vicinity of the Waaldijk where John R. Towle performed his heroic deed on 21 September 1944. The monument is easily accessible and visible to residents, visitors and passers-by.

The official unveiling took place on Saturday 21 September 2024, exactly 80 years after the death of John R. Towle.

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Source

• Text: Paul Janssen
• Photos: Sjack van der Voort

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