On the Shed wall Sheppard writes down the dates that he was captured and had escaped to that point:

“Captured on the 6th, escaped on the 12th” [June]

The sequence of events was that a train filled with prisoners set out from Cherbourg on the 10th. It was attacked from the air, disabled. Many casualties were caused. Next day the remaining prisoners were moved on by road. A further incident of friendly fire occurred in which more prisoners were killed. On the 12th Sheppard’s group was put on a bus from which he escaped that night when it was stopped during a further air raid – together with Bill Sullivan, Pvt Al Kreitch (who had both been in the initial group on D Day), and Marty Knafl – taking off through a minefield. They made their way to Creances where they were hidden and fed by locals for some days.

“Captured on the 18th, escaped on the 19th”

In a letter written to Sheppard’s son following Sheppard’s death, Sullivan does not mention this capture stating that they were at large until captured on the 23rd.

“Captured on the 23rd, escaped on the 25th (The markup on the wall is unclear but that would accord with Sullivan).

Sullivan says they were recaptured near Doville about a mile from the American lines when a German soldier noticed their military boots. He goes on to say they were taken to Vesly interrogated then given shovels to dig two graves and the Major in charge said that the two wearing civilian clothes were to be shot as spies – not saying which of them that was. Later he came back and said he had changed his mind. With about 40 others they were taken to La Ronde-Hay the next day and put in a schoolhouse. Loose security allowed them to escape from there in pairs – Sullivan with Kreitch and Sheppard with another soldier. Sullivan relates that years later Sheppard told him that he had been recaptured when the other guy had got hold of some calvados and become boisterous.

“Captured on the 16th, escaped on the 20th, captured 28th”

We are now in July. This last escape from the Monastery (a.k.a. the Nunnery or Starvation Hill) at Chappelle sur Vire was with Willen, Gillespie and Elledge. After capture they spent a night in a barn before Harder joined them and they were marched to “the Shed.”

From there Willen, the other parachutist, describes being taken to Bagnolles sur Orne. Then being walked to Alençon. From there transported via stops at Chartres, Paris, and Chalons to Limburg (Stalag XII-A) which was the German processing camp for army personnel, arriving on the 21st of August. Willen says that he left there on the 7th of September for Stalag III- C, arriving on the 11th. It would seem likely that Sheppard travelled similarly. They were not roommates at Alt Drewitz.

Having been liberated by the Russians Sheppard and another soldier (Sgt Francis W King 2nd Bn 38th Inf) slipped away twice on the repatriation journey trying to get back to the action.

Discharged 25th of September 1945 he returned to the family businesses in Maddison Lake.

Married several times he had 10 children.

Involved in local politics Sheppard served as local mayor and was known for his forthright attitude and not suffering fools lightly.

He died on the 31st of August 2004. The family were prevented from using the rank M/Sgt – possibly due to his AWOL moments though the Army would not confirm – some of the family speculated about black market trading. However, it may be far more prosaic than that. Upon release from PoW camp, he returned to France & re-enlisted “to fight Germans” & did so as a private.