| “Original caption: “Marlene Dietrich, motion picture actress, autographs the cast on the leg of Technician 4 Earl E. McFarland of Cavider, Texas, at a United States hospital in Belgium, where she has been entertaining the GIs. Circa November 24, 1944.” United States Army Technician 4th Grade Corporal Earl C. McFarland (March 20, 1922 – October 30, 1990) of Cameron, Texas, inducted on January 4, 1943, did basic training at Camp Flora, Mississippi, and then trained in sheet metal work at Camp Normoyle in San Antonio. After advanced engineer training in Chicago, Boston, New York, he was sent to England. McFarland was wounded in the knee during the invasion of France during a German air raid. During months of recuperation at Army hospitals, McFarland was sent from Belgium to England to McCloskey General Hospital in Temple, Texas in February 1945. Marlene Dietrich (December 27, 1901 – May 6, 1992) was on tour of Belgian Allied stations when the German Ardennes offensive began. She was in Bastogne, Belgium on December 16, and moved to Eupen. “When I saw a jeep with two generals in it racing to the rear, 1 realized it was time for me to get going. I didn’t stop until we reached Paris.” She told friends and family that Brigadier General James M. Gavin (March 22, 1907 – February 23, 1990), Commanding Officer of the 82nd Airborne Division, parachuted into Bastogne and drove her back to Paris in his personal jeep. | |
| Image Filename | wwii0322.jpg |
| Image Size | 744.83 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2908 x 2276 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Army Signal Corps |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | November 24, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | |
| State or Province | |
| Country | Belgium |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NWDNS-111-SC-232989 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
Author of the World War II Multimedia Database