Purple Heart Lane

"When you're under fire, there's really only one thing on your mind. Survive. I ran faster than I ever ran in my life, and I was carrying thirty pounds of gear. Somehow your brain starts to rationalize - just get down this road Matt Baker. Just get down this road and you'll be going home. It's only once you stop running that you start to wonder... Will any of us actually return home? Alive?"

— Baker's Monologue

Purple Heart Lane is the 14th chapter of Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30. This chapter shows the famous battle that took place in Purple Heart Lane near Carentan. It also introduced new characters to the team.

Summary[]

An open causeway is the only path to Carentan. The last bridge into town is secured by a Belgian gate and covered by machine guns...

Plot[]

With St. Come secured and their flank dealt with, the 101st Airborne can carry the main assault through the causeway that leads to Carentan. However, the causeway is heavily defended from artillery, snipers and occasional paratroopers. Baker managed to reunite the rest of the squad and joined the assault.

Rivas was hit on the throat by a sniper and slowly dying before comforted by Corrion. Baker's squad soon engage the Germans and push forward until reaching under the bridge where Cole and his battalion are waiting. Cole is dumbfounded with the little reinforcement provided for the assault and decide the need to charge through the causeway. While charging, the assault is under heavy fire from Germans opposite from the marshes that weren't drained yet. Baker's squad cross the causeway safely using the 4 Fs.

As they reach the bridge with men crossing one by one, they are caught fire by a nearby machine gunner. Baker's squad forced to take out the MG in order to cross the bridge blocked by a gate. Baker's squad under much difficulty managed to kill the MG and its defenders. As they cross the bridge, they are ambushed by German bombers who bombed the bridge, killing or wounding many soldiers on the bridge.

Objectives[]

Advance to Bridge 4 on the causeway[]

The only route to Carentan is along the deadly causeway. Stay on the low ground and behind cover to avoid the enemy snipers.

Characters[]

Lieutenant Colonel Robert G. Cole
Sergeant Matthew Baker (Playable)
Sergeant Craig Lewis (KIA)
Corporal Samuel Corrion
Corporal Joseph Hartsock
Private First Class Stephan Obrieski (does not speak)
Private First Class Harry Wheaton (does not speak)
Private First Class Thomas Zanovich (does not speak)
Private Boyd (does not speak, KIA)
Private Michael Desola (does not speak, KIA)
Private Richard Doe (does not speak)
Private Dale McCreary (does not speak)
Private Reece Jameson (does not speak)
Private Johnny Rivas (does not speak, KIA)

Weapons[]

American Weapons[]

Springfield M1903 (Scoped)
M1A1 Thompson
M1 Garand (Pick Up)

German Weapons[]

Kar 98k
StG 44
MG 42

Teams[]

Fire Team[]

Cpl. Hartsock - B.A.R. M1918
Pfc. Zanovich - M1 Garand
Pfc. Obrieski - M1 Garand

Assault Team[]

Cpl. Corrion - M1A1 Thompson
Pvt. Desola - M1 Garand
Pvt. McCreary - M1 Garand

Transcript[]

Main article: Purple Heart Lane/Transcript

Extras[]

Belgian Gates - Easy[]

A "Belgian Gate" is a very heavy, anti-tank barrier made of metal and mounted on wheels.

This gates were used in Belgium to block German armor in 1939–1940. The Germans recovered and used the gates as obstacles in Normandy.

This rare photo shows the Bridge 4 gate in Carentan. Photograph courtesy of Lt. John Reeder, via M. Bando.

This is the gate on Bridge 4 of Purple Heart Lane in the game. In June, 1944, Lt. Col. Cole pushed men through under fire, one at the time.

Purple Heart Lane, Then and Now and In Game - Normal[]

Discovered at the US National Archives, this is a soldier's sketch of the causeway leading into Carentan from the North, "Purple Heart Lane."

A photograph of the same causeway, 60 years after the invasion. This is the section between Bridge 3 and Bridge 4.

The causeway in Brothers in Arms.

A rare, color photograph of Purple Heart Lane from 1944. This photograph was taken in the fall - the fields have dried a bit and the grass is browning.

Museum Collaboration and Endorsement - Difficult[]

Museum Collaboration and Endorsement (1)

The VFW is a vital institution with a proud history and a valuable legacy. Learn more about the Veterans of Foreign Wars at www.vfw.org.

Museum Collaboration and Endorsement (2) — The Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation has endorsed Brothers in Arms.

"The VFW believes that Brothers in Arms will help us reach our goal of increasing awareness about the sacrifices of veterans,"

..."Video games are the new medium for storytelling and Brothers in Arms accurately depicts the contributions made by veterans and their families during World War II."

Museum Collaboration and Endorsement (3)

The Patton Museum in Fort Knox Kentucky has an unrivaled collection of armored vehicles throughout history. Learn more about the Patton Museum at www.generalpatton.org.

Museum Collaboration and Endorsement (4) — The Patton Museum has endorsed Brothers in Arms.

Endorsement by the Patton Museum Foundation, Inc.

"Brothers in Arms, Road to Hill 30 is a new video game from Gearbox Software that set in World War II during the tumultuous days of June 1944 and the invasion of Normandy, France. This exciting game tells the compelling story of a squad of paratroopers on D-Day and recreates WWII tactical combat in a way never before seen in a video game. Brothers in Arms is authentic to the fine detail. It is more than a game: it is an immersive experience that tells an important story of the heroes of the "Greatest Generation." In all aspects: authenticity, tactics and story, Brothers in Arms is a worthy tribute to the soldiers who fought for freedom in WWII."

Museum Collaboration and Endorsement (5)

The National D-Day Museum in New Orleans is an invaluable resource that is expanding into the National World War 2 museum. Learn more at www.ddaymuseum.org.

Museum Collaboration and Endorsement (6)

Several other museums have either directly assisted development of Brothers in Arms or were used as resources and references to ensure the authenticity of the game.

Purple Heart Lane Official After Action Reports - Authentic[]

Purple Heart Lane Official After Action Reports (1)

A page from the After Action Reports detailing the push down the causeway that become known as "Purple Heart Lane."

Close-up on the hand-drawn diagram of the causeway from the After Action Reports.

Purple Heart Lane Official After Action Reports (3) — A section of the report describing the defense of the causeway.

What complicated the approach was the causeway itself: Being the only line of approach and straight and narrow, it comprised a defile along which the attacking infantry had to expose itself to fire from front and both flanks. Snipers might hide in the reeds on either side. Artillery could put the causeway under fire for its entire length. From the solid ground beyond the marshes, automatic guns could be disposed along the crests and hedgerows, so that they could be sweep the road and its embankments. These were the chances which had to be taken.

Purple Heart Lane Official After Action Reports (4) — A later page from the After Action Report that references German fighter planes that bombed and strafed the causeway.

After dropping its bombs - or so the men along the causeway thought - the enemy plane went right on down the position, blistering the column with machine gun bullets...

...saw clearly that two German planes had crossed above the column at right angles to one another in a split second. The plane which had dropped the bombs had flown across the marshes...

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

Cole and Baker's squad of ten are the only ones charging in the game, compared to the 50 or more who actually participated (the rest of the battalion followed later).
Only a few men are hit when two Stuka dive bombers strafe the causeway, versus the 30 or more who were actually harmed, not to mention that the bombing actually occurred at bridge number 3, rather than at bridge 4.
Corrion, Hartsock, and Baker are the only ones who do not carry M1 Garands unless the player picks up Rivas' M1.
Ironically, the loading screen dictates the characters who will die during this chapter.
Contrary to what the Hint suggests, there is a finite number of German Reinforcements, killing them off slowly with the Springfield may be a better tactic than charging as intended on Authentic where enemy damage and accuracy are higher than other difficulties.

Difference in the PS2 version[]

Even if Rivas is dead, his name and rank tag still shows up.
Red and Obrieski is part of the Assault Team. On the other hand, Corrion and Zanovich are in the Base-of-Fire team.
Sgt. Craig Lewis' rank does not flash, but he's labeled as an Assault Team.
Desola didn't appear until the end of the mission.
For an odd reason,Desola has Baker's head model at the end.
The cutscene of German Junkers (Stukas) arriving are shown in a different angle.
McCreary and Courtland are not present.
Cole, Muzza, Jameson, and Locke are a part of an Assault Team.