Two weeks before Dijon's liberation, two U.S. paratroopers—boyish Captain William Pietsch (rhymes with screech) and Sergeant Robert Baird—dropped down into the area from England. Also parachuted: automatic arms and mortars for 300 men. The two Americans organized the Maquis, led several small attacks, harried the disorganized Germans right & left. Getting bigger ideas, Captain Pietsch set out in an ancient Buick, drove it through German lines, reached the Third Army, borrowed a few U.S. tanks.
With these he set a trap, destroyed a big German convoy, drove on into Dijon, cleaned out the town. When French troops arrived next day,...