John S. Thompsonbrug

Man Made Bridge...

The bridge was captured by Lieutenant John S. Thompson during Operation Market Garden. His name was given to the bridge by his widow as a tribute during the commemoration in September 2004. Thompson was a platoon commander in the 82nd American Airborne Division and came down with 16 men on 17 September 1944 in the Mars en Wythpolder, about 700 metres from the bridge.

First he went to the Van Sasse pumping station and from there he went via the water to the dike between the pumping station and the Rijksweg. On the casemates at the bridge there was German anti-aircraft guns that were knocked out by a bazooka gunner of the paratroopers. After fighting with the Germans, the platoon was able to capture the southern approach to the bridge. Later that day the Americans were also able to capture the northern part of the bridge from Nederasselt.

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