The Allied commanders of World War II saw the need for airborne troops in Europe during the German invasion of Crete in May 1941. Although German paratroopers nearly met with disaster, they eventually succeeded in taking the island. The German attack was the first time an invasion of an island was successfully accomplished by air, and though the near failure made the German high command wary of relying much on paratroopers, the Allies saw the advantages and began training their own airborne forces.
Paratroopers were valuable because they allowed the Allies to drop light infantry behind enemy lines, enabling them to deploy a fighting force without warning. Two of the most active of the American airborne divisions were the 82nd and 101st, though there were others, including the 17th, 11th, and 13th. American airborne troops fought in battles in places such as North Africa, Normandy, the Netherlands, Sicily, the Philippines, and elsewhere.
Fold3 has many records relating to the airborne troops of World War II, including numerous photos in the WWII U.S. Air Force Photos collection. Below are just a few of the photos you can find on Fold3 of paratroopers in World War II:
- Paratrooper’s equipment being inspected before leaving on invasion of Europe.
- British paratroopers landing on the Greek mainland from American planes of the 51st Wing, USAAF.
- Paratroopers entering a plane, North Africa.
- Paratroopers landing on Corregidor.
- American paratroopers on their way to Sicily.
- Paratroopers fixing their static lines before jumping to their objective.
- A paratrooper making a jump during the invasion of southern France at H-4, D-Day, 15 August 1944.
- Paratroopers leaving Douglas C-47s, in preparation for further landings somewhere in the Philippines. Luzon, Philippine Islands, June 1945.
- Members of the 11th Airborne Division dropping out of planes to start the attack on Appari Airstrip in Northern Luzon, Philippine Islands.
Do you have any family members who were paratroopers? Tell us about them! Or find more images and documents about the paratroopers of World War II by searching Fold3.
My uncle PFC Elliott Russell Lund was a paratrooper with the 17th Airborne Division and saw action in the Battle of the Bulge as part of George Patton’s push to break the German’s siege on Bastogne and free the 101st Airborne. Unfortunately he was captured by an elite SS unit, marched to StalagIVB where he later died one month before the end of the war in Europe. In December 2008 I published a book about him and his unit, the 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment and the following year he was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously.
I thank him for his sacrifice and service so that we may live in freedom of the USA!!!! And hats off to the many of the Veterans who served in this and all wars. As a Veteran myself of Vietnam I can appreciate the value of all who serve our great country.
Robert
Thanks Robert,
First I want to thank you for your service to our country as well. Like you I salute all of our Veterans who have fought to keep us free. My family tree is filled with Veterans dating back to the Civil War and possibly the Revolutionary War. I am also a US Army Veteran and my father served in the Pacific in WW2 on an LCT and was training to assault mainland Japan when the Atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Thanks again for your service and for your comments on my recent post.
Russ
Russ,
My younger son just told me he ordered your book. l left 2 messages for Marcia Thorpe in these comments about the role of African Americans in the paratrooper ranks in WW II that I discovered because of this comment stream. I’m grateful you started it. I didn’t mention that my Dad’s passing in 1987 was ruled service connected. The doctors at the VA who had been treating him for years said his war injuries and the nerve damage it caused had weakened his heart. Though he had been classified as 100% disabled after the war I’m glad he was able to lead a fairly normal life till his sudden death at the age of 65. I have framed his certificate from basic training and promotion to Corporal, from OCS, pictures from the war and Army, and his Purple Heart. There is not a day that has gone by since the day of his death that I don’t think of him. Thanks again.
My Uncle was in the 101. Never talked about the war.
Hi Russ,
Thank you for your Father’s service. My Dad, Howard E. Bowers was in the 11th Airborne Division of the 675th, as a Staff Sargent. He died in 1959 7 months before I was born. I would love to find out more about what he did and went through in Luzon and the Philippines. If you could direct me to the right direction I would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you,
Heather W. Bowers
Dear Mr Wilkins,
May God bless your late uncle PFC Elliot Russell Lund of the 173rd Airborne Div. I would be most interested to read the book you wrote about him and his war . I will say a prayer in church tomorrow in his memory.
I am also a paratrooper and was blessed to have had several WW II veterans as officers and NCO cadre in our little LRRP unit in the 1960’s We all remember these men with great respect, admiration and love for who they were and what they did to save this world from a diabolical future. Your uncle is no exception .
Than you.
Sincerely,
Joe Chetwynd
Dear Mr Wilkin,
I’m a Belgium active soldier and a WW2 airborne friend … Could you tell me more about your uncle … I live in Liege 30 min from the Bulge area .
Dominique Potier
My father was in the 17th, 193 GIR and made 3 glider invasions, including Varsity. Does your book cover any info on the 193, 194 GIR? If so how can I get a copy of your book.
Thank you,
Stan Monkress
The book Thunder From Heaven shows your relative, Elliot Lund as a member of the 513, MIS (not sure what MIS means); however if he was in the 913, he may have participated in the “Dead Men’s Ridge” encounters which is mentioned in the book.
Al,
Thanks for the info. I will try to obtain a copy of the book “Thunder from Heaven”.
Yes my uncle Elliott R Lund was in the 513th PIR of the 17th Airborne Division and saw action in the battle of the Bulge on the western outskirts of Bastogne.
MIS as you mentioned is probably the designation for MIA actually. I did a lot of research and wrote a book “Missing in Belgium” about my uncle and his unit, from Boot Camp and Jump training all the way to his capture and captivity in Stalag IVB. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart in 2009.
Thanks again
Russ
Mr Stanley Monkress,
Your father was Clarence E Monkress ???
Dominique
Yes he was Clarence E. Monkress; do you have any ifo about his service etc.
Thank you,
Stan
Stanley,
This is what I have :
Pfc Clarence E Monkress ASN: 37520900 . 193GIR HQ, 194GIR and 326GIR Co D.
Could you tell me if he passed away on Nov 11, 2004 and buried in Cleveland ?
Thanks
Domi
Thank you Dominique,
Yes dad passed away on Veterans Day 2004, and is buried in Cleveland, Ok.
Thank you for your info and help. Is there anymore info out there about his units and the battles they were involved in? He didn’t talk much about it. Now that I look back on his life I think he was suffering from PTSD all those years with no help.
Thank you again,
Stan Monkress
Stan,
Normaly your dad was with the 17th Airborne, 193GIR and 194GIR and fought with these units … I’m thinking he was transferer after the V-Day in Europe to the 326GIR … may be he didn’t have the famous 85 points …
You can contact Mr Ed Siergiej who is in charge with the 17th Airborne Newsletter: [email protected]
If you have facebook you have also a 17th Page with many good contacts : 17th Airborne Division Family and Friends
Hope you will find some good info about your dad .
Domi
Russ,
My thanks for telling your Uncle Elliot’s story and his memory will always live in the service he gave to his country. Your Uncle Elliot was part of those whose saved my father, First Lt. Sidney Israel Karesky who was with the 517th Regimental parachute Combat Team attached to armored units. My father had joined the army in 1940 at the age of 19. He saw combat in North Africa, was shipped back to the States, went to OCS and then Georgia where the 517th with other units trained and was shipped to Italy as part of the 101st Airborne. He saw 180 days of combat in all according to his records. Dad’s unit was right at the point where the German attack began in the Battle of the Bulge. And indeed they were saved by General Patton’s tank and men like your Uncle Elliot. My father was severely wounded and after Patton’s armored units and men under his command made it able to ship him and the other wounded out, he spend six months in military hospitals. Dad passed away on January 17th, 1987 but I will always remember the things he told me about the war and how grateful he and his fellow paratroopers were to see Patton’s tanks and accompanying paratroop units arrive.
Thanks Ed.
I believe it is our job, to make sure that the memories and sacrifices of the men like your father and my uncle who bravely fought World War 2 live forever.
I attempted to do that with my book ” Missing in Belgium ”
I am curious how close your father and my uncle were during the battle for Bastogne. I will look through the material I have while writing my book on your fathers unit 517th and let you know what I find.
Russ
Was hw a member of Band of Bros. who +rained in +occoa, Georgia a+ CURRAHEE M+n.?
Rebecca,
I know my Dad trained in Georgia at Fort Benning. His company. which was a part of the 517th Regimental Paratroop Combat Team attached to armored, was stationed right where the Germans began their counterattack in the Battle of the Bulge. When Patton’s tanks and troops arrived, there were only 16 of the company left alive. Years later in 1968 when I was a student at the University of Arizona, I met a student who in conversation about the war, said his father who was a paratrooper and fought in the Battle of the Bulge, said his father told him the same thing, that there were “only 16 of his company left. Sadly, we didn’t get each other’s names and contact information a the conversation occurred at a U of A football game and I never saw him again. There is a good sized documentation on Wikipedia about the 517th.
Russ – My Uncle, Ralph Ray Kearns, was in the 513th PIR during the Battle of the Bulge and Operation Varsity. Is your book still available? Do you have info on individual soldiers (like my Uncle)? Thanks.
Donn
I have a lot of researched info that was used to write my book including many individuals. I will check my material and see if I have anything on your uncle.
I did mention Operation Varsity in chapter 7 to pay tribute to the entire Division. The 17th Airborne Division played a major role in ending the war and Operation Varsity, which the 17th participated, was and still is the single largest Airborne drop in a single day in history. Do you know what company he was assigned ? My uncle was assigned to “B company- 1st Battalion- 513th. Their unit had run out of ammunition during their battle with the 3rd Panzer Grenadier Division and Remers Fuhrers Begleit Brigade, an elite unit.
My book is still available on Barnes & Nobles.com and Amazon.com.
Thanks for responding to my post
Russ,
Your uncle was D Company … I don’t have more info but I don’t know if you are in touch with the 17th Airborne association which could help you .
Dominique Potier
Belgium
Russ & Dominique,
Thank you. My uncle was indeed in Company D of the 513 PIR, 2nd Battalion. He lived for 88 years, passing away a little over 3 years ago. Towards the end, frostbite injuries from the Bulge took away the feeling in his feet and his ability to walk.
He visited me when I was stationed in Germany, and I was able to take him to Bastogne, the Mardasson, and the museum. Listening to him tell stories of the war was fascinating. Shortly after he passed away, I was able to visit the fields of Operation Varsity. Sure wish I could have shown him the pictures. Through a 17th Airborne site on Facebook, I found pictures of the Company and was able to identify him. He remains a family hero.
Donn,
Do you have more info you could tell to me about him ?
I’m a Belgium Soldier still active …
Domi
Hi Domi,
His father was an Army Lt Colonel during the War, while his brother (my father) was in the US Navy (Pacific Theater). He fought in the Battle of the Bulge (where he told me the thing he remembered most was the cold) and jumped into Germany as part of Operation Varsity. He was under fire as he descended during the jump. He received a Bronze Start (V) and I believe two Purple Hearts (shot once, blown up a couple times). After the war, he became a chiropractor and afterwards lived the rest of his life in Beaufort. He was an active member of 17th Airborne veterans groups and attended their reunions in the US. He only visited Europe once after the war, and that was to visit me when I was stationed at Ramstein (as I described earlier). I know of very few people as highly respected as my Uncle was. His obituary is here: http://www.andersonfuneralhomebeaufortsc.com/memsol.cgi?user_id=1205128. The 17th Airborne talon is engraved on his headstone.
Thanks Donn, can I ask you more if it’s not to private of course ???
Just need to know where he is buried ? saw on his obit St Helena but which state ? also do you know his rand at the end of the WW2 and if you have his Army Serial Number ?
And many vet I drove here have the same memory about the Bulge … How cold it was ….
Thanks Doon
Hi Domi,
You must be collecting a data base of information on the soldiers of the 17th Airborne. I forgot to mention that my uncle was MIA, his parents (my grandparents) notified, and then he was found in a hospital in France.
To answer your questions, hIs serial number was 34917003, and his rank was Sergeant (SGT). He is buried in St. Helena’s Cemetery in Beaufort, South Carolina.
I will be in Germany early to mid February a little west of where Operations Varsity occurred. My son-in-law and I are going to tour the Ypres battlefied while I’m over there.
Donn
Donn,
I’m not just collecting data from the 17th Airborne, but also the 11th, 13th, 82nd, 101st and independent units … I have almost 130.000 names …
Thanks for your uncle’s info Donn ..
Varsity are and Ypres … both great places … pretty certain you will go to Brugges ;-))) Don’t forget if you have time the Battle of the Bulge Area 😉
Domi
my father James William Jones served in 101st, 502 company A. I have no records of his service. I do have several pictures of him and others. Do have any information on him?
Hi David,
I have your father … Pvt James W Jones ASN 43809173 ( not certain) 502PIR A Co. I must say that I can’t say where I found my info because it’s the result with a mix with websites, books, Vets and family … For him I also have “No combat jump” looks like he was a replacement after Holland …. If you have more info for me they are welcolme …
Domi
Serial number is 34809173. I have his discharge. Departed US 23 Jan 45. Departed Europe 29 Dec 45.
Do you have any information on Willie (William) O. Steadman? He was in 101st, 502 PIR, 3rd Battalion, Company I. I know he jumped into Normandy D-Day, Operation Market Garden and was in Battle of Bulge where he was wounded and sent back to London in January 1945. I have written for military records but was informed records were burned in a fire at military storage building. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Marjorie Lambright
Marjorie,
T/4 William O Steadman ASN: 14079974. 101st Airborne, 502PIR Co I. 2 combat Jumps; D-Day and Holland.
Thank you so much. You have some wonderful information. Thanks for what you are doing.
Marjorie Lambright
An honor for me to help US family.
Domi
Hello all,
My father, William Francis Sullivan was also 17th airborne, 513th parachute infantry, serving in Operation Varsity. Few stories he told us (as is so typical of this generation) but I know he was sent into Belgium with his men, lived with local families as they moved behind the Germans to drive them into the waiting Allied troops. He also broke his leg during a parachute jump, kept on running and never had the bone set. Just dug in, and completed the mission. Would also love to have a copy of your book, Russ
These guys, and all our vets, are amazing.
Peg,
I hope you can see my response to Donn Kearns where I discuss the 17th and their role in Operation Varsity, and where you can find my book.
If you can’t see my response or you have any other questions please let me know.
My Uncle, Kenneth Hope, was a paratrooper with the British First Airborne Division, 80th Reconnaissance Regiment (“Pegasus” unit) who were transported by Horsa glider from Tarrant Rushton Airfield in Dorset into Oosterbeek Holland on Sept. 17, 1944 as part of the assault group to take the bridge at Arnhem.He spent the next ten days in house to house combat as the Airborne trooper were squeezed by the 9th and 10th Panzer Division. Sixty-five hundred paratroopers were dropped into the operation but only Two Thousand were able to escape at night across the lower Rhine unwounded. My uncle was among those lucky few and later able to relate his stories to many authors, including Cornelius Ryan (A Bridge Too Far). He saw my brothers playing with some cheap toy walkie talkies once and said with tears in his eyes “If we had only had radios as good as these at Arnhem.” You had to have guts to land in a war zone with limited firepower.
Is there any information on the black troops stateside who tested the parachutes? Years ago, my sister worked with a black gentleman who was among those who did testing before the ‘chutes went into general use.
Marcia,
Google: “Black Troops tested parachutes in WW II.” You will find pictures and some information. When I was teaching I made it a point to make sure my students knew the contributions by minorities to the wars of the United States so I did quite a bit of research. That is one piece of information I didn’t know. My own family is of Russian Jewish background. My father always said “war teaches you one certainty. No matter one’s background, we all bleed the same blood.”
Marcia,
Google: Black troops testing parachutes in WW II. You will find pictures and some information. When I was teaching High School Social Studies I always made sure my students knew the contributions minorities and women made to our war effort both in the States and overseas. That is one bit of information I didn’t come across. I’m almost 70 but never stopped learning. I did while in college at the University of Arizona meet the son of the great General ‘Chappie’ James, one of the most famous of the Tuskegee pilots. Daniel went on to become a Lt. General himself. My family is of Russian Jewish background. My Dad always said “one thing war teaches you very quickly is we all bleed the same blood. Thanks for giving me some new knowledge which I plan on reading more about.
Ed Karesky again. Google “Jumping Into History: The Army’s First African American Paratroopers.” Thank you again.
If you are talking during the WW2 you just have one African American Airborne unit … The 555PIB triple Nickels … they used to jump in forest in fire … heroes
Dominique,
Google: “Jumping Into History: The Army’s First African American Paratroopers.” Great historical article.
Thanks Ed … i’m in touch with the 555PIB historian … he manage a great page about the 555PIB on Facebook …. A great man
I’ll look up his site. Thanks again!
Just found it on Facebook. You’re right. Great site! I’ll let my friends who are interested in military history know about it,
Russ,
Thank you for posting your info. My dad, Bruce Waldo, was also in the 513th. His unit was captured in early January 1945 and also sent to Stalag IVB. Luckily, Dad and two of his friends managed to escape after 3 months as a POW. As Peg Sullivan mentioned in her comment, it was not easy to get information out of the greatest generation, but Dad finally agreed to be interviewed as part of a series of articles about WWII vets. Here’s more info
http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/bib/loc.natlib.afc2001001.47653
Jeffery Meek also wrote a book containing the interviews, “They Answered the Call.”
Thanks again.
My Father Howard Edward Bowers was in the 11th Airborne Division of the 675th, that was part of the liberation! I would love to find out more. I see you have many photo’s.
Here is more information:
Howard Edward Bowers, my father, son of Joseph Edward Bowers and Bertha Mae Worthington was born in Whitchata, TX. Nov.1st, 1922. When he was seven he was in Mass. with his parents. His father was a Hydrolic Engineer, and built Damm’s all over the country.
He went to High School at Fort Peck, Valley Co., Montana and was very active in sports.
By 1942 he is in Portland, OR with his parents. Howard enlisted in WWII in 1943. Here is his Military Records.
Military Records-
25 Feb 1943 Portland, Multnomah CO, OR.
He was a Fire Control Instrument Operator 645, Parachutists Badge.
Served in WWII and fought in battles at New Guinea, Southern Philippines and Luzon.
He received- Philippine Liberation Medal with two Bronze service Stars, Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge Go 68 HQ WD 45, American Theatre Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and a Bronze Arrowhead Victory Medal.
*************************
Discharge Papers-
Army of the United States Honorable Discharge.
This is to certify that Howard E. Bowers 39-327-103 Staff Sargent 675th PG FA BN 11th AB Division, Army of the United States.
Is hereby Honarably Discharged from the military service of the United States of America.
This certificate is awarded as a testimonial of Honest and Faithful Service to this country.
Seoeration Center- Given at Fort Lewis, Washington.
Certificate is in possesion of Heather W. Bowers.
Date- 26 December 1945
Signed- Harry D. Taylor
Lieutenant Colonel Cavalry
******************
After the war, Howard married Helen Emilie Cowan on 7 Sept. 1946 in Woodburn, Marion Co., OR. Howard went to College and received a Masters degree in Geology.
Death Certificate-
Death was on May 13th 1959. His name was listed as Howard Edward Bowers. Birth was 11-2-22, he was 36 years of age at time of his death. Occupation was a Geologist, and worked for the US Government. Born in Wichita Falls, Texas. Father was Joseph Bowers, mother was Bertha Mae Worthington. He served in WWII. His SS. # is 517-12-1063. Informant was the VA Hospital Records.
Cause of Death: Spontaneous subarachnoid and right intraventricular hemorrhage. Hemangioma of intrinsic arteries of right caudate nucleus. Autopsy was performed. Other significant conditions contributing but not related to the termanal disease…….
Bronchopneumonia.
The VA attended the deceased from May 1, 1959 – May 13, 1959. Death recorded at 7:30 AM.
Signed: Warren V. Huber, MD., V.A. Hospital, Denver, Colo. 5/13/59.
Buriel, 5/18/1959, Fort Logan National Cemetery, Arapahoe County, Colo. Funeral Director: Gene Carey at Capitol Mortuaries, Denver, Colo. Rec. 5/18/59. Registar’s Signature. Fredy L. O’Bryan-Dp.
Howard E. Bowers; 1922- 1959. Services were held at Chapel of the Angels May 18, 1959. Officiatting Rev. Francis J. Syrianey, Our Lady Of Fatima Catholic Church. Interment Ft. Logan National Cemetery Denver, Colorado.
(bio by: Heather W Borden-Bowers)
Family links:
Parents:
Joseph Edward Bowers (1878 – 1957)
Bertha Mae Worthington Bowers (1886 – 1958)
Spouse:
Helen Emilie Cowan Bowers Bundy (1924 – 2010)
Inscription:
S SGT US ARMY, WORLD WAR II
Fort Logan National Cemetery
Denver, Denver, CO.
My uncle, Charles Webster, was in the 101st Airborne and he landed in Normandy on D-Day. He was wounded, shot in the shoulder, at Eindhoven Holland and received the Purple Heart. His wound was treated by a captured German doctor. For the rest of his life he could never lift his arm above his head. One time, right before they jumped, it was noticed that the Germans had driven many, many stakes into the ground several feet apart in the area where they were going to land. So, everybody jumped in different random places. Charles landed in a tree. He managed to get down but was lost, all alone behind enemy lines in Holland. He hid in a barn. All he could find to eat were some donuts and apple cider. After he was rescued a reporter for some newspaper interviewed him and published his story. Charles always laughed and said that at least he was lost in Holland where the local people were friendly and on our side. His brother, John Webster, was a Ranger and during the Battle of Anzio he was lost behind enemy lines in Italy where the local people were against us. Luckily, both brothers survived the war. Charles was born in Middle River, Minnesota on Dec 21,1920 and died in Neptune Beach, Florida on May 19, 2011.
Sgt Charles L Webster . 101st Airborne, 502PIR, Co G .
Domi
My uncle, Byron G. Sherman, was with the 82nd Airborne during this operation. During his paratrooper training he wrote a series of articles for our local newspaper describing the training experience. After the war, he went back to school and became an anesthesiologist, eventually heading the Anesthesiology Dept. He died in 2013 at the age of 93.
My uncle John Davis was a paratrooper in the 82nd
Purple Heart three cluster. Pretty tuff cookie, he was shot up pretty bad and eventually lost both legs. Everyone called him Lopey because that’s how he walked along before he lost both legs. He was behind the germans at Normandy and Africa. I didn’t
know you could stay alive eating grasshoppers until he cooked one in a spoon.
we honor and salute your Uncle for his service and sacrifice to our country
My father in law, Captian Paul H Brock, Jr, Service #0367148 was a member of the 320th Glider Field Artillery Battalion of the 82nd Airborne Division. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart during the June 6, 1944 D Day invasion. I have little other information about his service as apparently a lot of Army records were destroyed in a fire in St Louis in 1952 and a lot of the 82nds records were destroyed in a fire at Ft Bragg in 1946. If anyone has any idea how I might get some information on him and/or the units he served with, I sure would appreciate it. He served from March 20, 1942 to December 18, 1945. He was born in Pensacola, Fl on March 4, 1917, lived in Tallahassee, Fl until his death on June 4,1967.
Your father flew mission Elmira Chalk 9 C 47 42-15108 Glider “MAJA” 3G4949.
My step-father, Philip Koon, was in the 82nd in WWII. He didn’t talk much about it, but as I recall, he did jump into Normandy the night before D-Day with the mission to hold a bridge. He also fought in Sicily, in the Battle of the Bulge, and, I believe, in Africa (where he contracted malaria). He was a chief scout for part of the time – I think his nickname was Zip Koon. He landed in a tree once and always had some back problems as a result. He rose to sergent a couple of times, but then was busted down to private. Once for wrecking the jeep of a high ranking officer. I have a couple of pictures of him with two other soldiers holding a German flag. He said he never killed anyone, but captured many German soldiers. Maybe he just didn’t want me to know otherwise? Any idea how I can find out more about him? THANKS
Can anyone tell me where to look up a great uncle to see where he served and what campaigns he was involved with?
Richard Koon,
You could contact the 505RCT family and friends … they could help you like your father was a 505PIR Co F.
Domi
L.J.Stemmer
Please give me your great uncle’s name.
Domi
Last name was Weist , I know I think he was in the Africa campaign
Weist , in Africa I believe
Last name Weist, from Cincinnati OH
Domi, I’m trying to find out , i only have 2 people that might have his name. The only reason I am assuming Africa campaign is bc the letter was said. To have stated…..”can’t tell you where I am right now but I can tell you we HAVE ROMMEL on the run” thanks for trying to help DOMI, if I get a response I will certainly let you know. Thanks again for your help in my Intrests for my quest of family facts and knowledge.
How do I look up the big red one? Thanks again for all your help.
You can try here … I don’t have any contact with the 1st Inf Div …
https://1stid.org/historyindex.php
L.J. Stemmer,
I don’t have your great uncle in my Airborne Data Base … do you have more info or pictures ??? was he in the Infantry, Artillery, Armo ??? one of the best US Inf Div fought in Africa … the famous Big Red One …
Domi
My husbands uncle was in the 101st airborne who invaded Normandy behind enemy lines the night before. He is a true hero. He was awarded the silver star and distinguished service metal.
So was my grandpa. I’ll have to find out more info. So interesting!
I was in the 2nd 508th @ Ft. Brag N.C. from ’65 to ’68. Sure would like to hear from others that were there. WILLIS PATTON, CHARLES OSTERCAMP, HARRY RUFFINGS, JOHN TRAP…TURBUSH and others…….Miles, Stroud, Nahdo, Killins, Best………….Drop a line
I was in 2d Bn (Abn) 508th Infantry in1964/1965 then sent to RVN. Came back to Ft Bragg for assignments with 82d and Spec Ops over the years. Last assignment with the 82d was as commander of 2-508.
…..May have jumped together at Bragg….was with Co A 6th SFG & was always making extra jumps with the 82nd boys. Jump school @ Benning May &June ’66 with good ol’ Sgt. Tobias in 44th Co……..ahhh, the memories! 🙂
Jim Torpey….are your people from Bethlehem, PA?
My father was in the 82nd and he was stationed in Europe. My grandfather died in December 1944 so Im not sure about his units movements as he was in the States for the funeral. My father in his short life carried the pain of war for most of his adult life as shrapnel was lodged in his body. Today he would be violently opposed to the nazi headed to the White House. His first heart attack was on Nixons first inauguration.
My thanks to your father for his service to the United States. My father would concur with yours.
Not a forum to vent political frustrations. With ancestors in the revolutionary war, civil war (Confederate), WW1, WW11 and Vietnam myself, I honor these men mentioned here for their service and sacrifice. I don’t see a “nazi” going into the White House and we need to support whomever is elected contrary to our political views. My uncle spent 315 straight days on the front lines and just after a couple days at rest was put back on the front lines when the Battle of the Bulge began.
How do I find a military relative that was in the African campaign with only his last name
NAME : Weist
FROM: Cincinnati OH
That’s the only info
His sister was my great grandmother
Fold3 (www.fold3.com), a military records focused website, lists (from Cincinnati):
– George Weist, serial number 35462033 (Date of Birth: 1920)
– Robert E. Weist, serial number 35670182 (DoB 1922)
– Albert W. Weist, serial number 35874491 (DoB 1917)
Hone of these is your great uncle,
My Uncle, Pfc Ludie L Smyth, was also with the 513th PIR CO H and participated in Operation Varsity. Sadly he was KIA on April 3, 1945 in Buldern, Germany two days after his 26th birthday while on a patrol to take out a German snipers nest. Unfortunately he was shot by a German sniper and died instantly. Before joining the paratroopers in Fort Benning he was stationed at Fort Mears in the Aleutian islands when the Japanese attacked there in 1942. He was awarded a Silver Star and a Purple Heart. I feel I knew him through the stories my Dad told me and the many letters I have that he wrote to his family during the war.
My Dad, Sgt.Tomas Smyth, was also in Germany at the time of his youngest brother’s death with the Army’s Field Artillery. He was also stationed in Pearl Harbor at Schofield Barracks with the Coast Artillery when the Japanese attacked in 1941. Sadly my Dad passed in 2001. He was a very patriotic man and was proud to be a veteran. They also had another brother Nadine Smyth who served with the Navy in the South Pacific during the war. My grandmother had to be a very strong women with all three of her sons serving their country during the war. I thank all veterans for their service and sacrifices. God bless them all.
Wow I certainly think your family really lived a “saving private Ryan ” I am here to say thank you to you and your family for there bravery and sacrifice for our country.
My father was in the battle of the bulge and won a bronze star. As others, he never talked about the war. He did, however, once offhandedly remark that the bravest men he knew were the paratroopers. He said if they walked into a bar, they never paid for a drink, out of respect.
My father, Beverly Pierce (BP) Fuller, was in the 82nd and 101st airborne and parachuted into Belgium in Operation Market Basket and saw other sorties in Anzio, Italy, and the Sicilian and N. African Campaigns. According to him, he was one of the first men to join the paratroopers and trained in Puerto Rico, where he learned Spanish. He went on to learn French, Italian and Dutch while in WWII. He started in the Infantry originally, but I have very little info on his service, as the records burned. I would like to know how to research his years of service. He first went into the Army when he stopped in to visit 2 of his older brothers, who were patrolling the border of W. Texas along the Rio Grande during the ’30’s, and they signed him up, although he was on his way to California to see if he could join the Navy. He was probably underage then, and joined as a stable boy with the Cavalry at Ft. Davis.
He told stories of patrolling N. Africa chasing Rommel, his assault efforts in Sicily, Monte Casino in Italy, and lastly, Belgium. He was wounded during this invasion, and died at the hands of negligent staff at the VA hospital in Dallas in 1990 because he got the orderlies in trouble for not attending to a paraplegic who had fallen off his bed but was tangled in his sheets inches from the floor face down, where he stayed for several hours. Daddy sailed a bed pan across the room to get the orderly’s attention when a doctor was walking by and Daddy scolded them in earshot of the doctor, who then reprimanded those men. They took revenge when Daddy had surgery a few weeks later by ripping off his neck brace the day after he had spinal surgery from a wound suffered during paratroop training. He died a few days later from lack of heart meds.
As sad as his ending was, I would like to know more about his service during WWII. Any help you can give me would be appreciated. I do know that Mother met him during one of his drill team’s performances in Washington D.C. He caught her eye as he had such lovely red (and gold?) braid on his uniform. His drill team performed with rifles used as batons are in ball games at different Washington, D. C. functions. I am sure this was before WWII, so he had to be out of the service prior to Pearl Harbor, or had re-enlisted just after. He attained Master Sergeant before mustering out as a private after WWII for a difference of opinion with his lieutenant, who was killing Daddy’s new recruits.
Mrs Fuller,
Did you try to contact the 505RCT family and friends ? they have WW2 vet from the 505PIR and maybe could help you.
Dominique Potier
Thank you! Have you been in contact with Filip Willems?
I know his work 😉
In my roster your father was at the 377PFAB also at the 463PFAB and 505PIR HQ … Maybe I’m wrong …His nickname was “BP” and apparently he made the South of France combat jump with the 463PFAB.
Sir, In your roster do you have the name Sidney Israel Karesky/ He was with the 517th Regimental Parachute Combat Team. Saw action in North Africa and was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge. Having trouble getting info as I think his records were destroyed in the fire. any info you can give me I would appreciate. Thank you.
Ed Karesky,
Yes I have 1Lt Sidney I Karesky, 51PRCT Co F passed away in 1987. I don’t have his Army Serial Number and If he made the South Of France Combat Jump .
Thank you so much for finding him listed. , Yes, he did make that jump. I have a great picture of him sitting in a lounge in Rome, Italy before that.
Ed, I have met several 517PRCT vet in South Of France during ceremonies. My best friend jumped also during Dragoon Ops with the 551PIB .
If you would like some pictures from monument in South Of France you can send me an email on [email protected]
Domi
Will do. I found it particularly interesting having spend 40 years living in Arizona that the original Black soldiers selected to try out for paratroop training, according to the history on the site, came from Fort Huachuca in Arizona. In the Avondale area of Arizona at one time were many families who were descendants of the Buffalo Soldiers Black Cavalry units that served in the Apache wars in Arizona. I taught with a lady who grew up in Avondale and whose great grandfather was one of those soldiers. Now the children of those people my age have moved away so there are few descendants there anymore. However, the Buffalo Soldiers are well loved in Arizona memory. There is a group of descendants who formed a “troop” many years ago and ride in full cavalry regalia in the state fair parade and many other events in the Southwest,
My grandfather, Harold
Mangini, was a member of “C” CO in the 327th GIR of the 101st Airborne Division. He fought in Normandy, Holland, Bastogne, Alsace Lorraine & ended his
war at Hitlers Eagles Nest in Berchesgarten.
My Father was a Paratrooper in WWII Germany, He stayed in Germany for almost 10 years in the 1940s. He was in the 101st Screaming Eagles. I remember my Father had scars in his face and legs due to the shrapnel. I have a Sibling out there that might be in his late 60s, born in Germany. He was a product of the war. I did my DNA in hopes of meeting him one day. My Father was Gonzalo Canales , I am proud of my Dad. The only thing, my Dad had me late in age and I didn’t get to spend enough time with him. My Dad was born in 1922. Missing my Dad.
I hope you can find him! I’m not sure that Fold 3 is very well known over in Europe, but there is a blogger for the 463rd PFA, 101st and 82nd Airborne named Filip Willems who hosts a website for re-enactors. They make it a point to keep the memories alive of what our fathers, uncles and Grandfathers did to save Belgium from Nazi occupation. His information can be found here, and he may know of some way to help you find your sibling:
e-mail:[email protected]
web:www.ww2airborne.net
facebook:facebook.com/463PFA
phone:+32 475 643052
+31 642 128647
Thank you Mrs Fuller , I greatly appreciate the info.
You are most welcome. I like to suppose that perhaps our dads knew each other. He was a little gadfly, attached from one troop to another and did hand to hand combat throughout St. Mere Eglise, and other places. When he parachuted in, (the movie The Longest Day was about this event.) he took a bullet through his leg and continued to fight for several days, and remarked that his toes were squishy with the blood in the boot. At one point, he was separated from his platoon, and went on fighting building by building. He finally fell asleep in the hay mow of a large barn on the outskirts of a town. A lovely young girl found him and woke him, and excitedly told him he had to leave, there were German soldiers bivouacked in their home. He asked how many and she indicated about 10. Daddy then asked where the latrine was and was told it was between the house and barn, which are connected, but he didn’t have time for that. He waited in the latrine, or nearby, for each soldier to come down, and he killed them one at a time, dumping their bodies in the next horse stall. He had not eaten for several days and had little sleep, and when he was killing the last one, he passed out. He thought he had died. When he came to, he was in a white room, wearing a white gown and a lovely blond girl was talking to him. He had learned some French and a little German and between the two was able to understand. She would bathe him, bring him food and the chamber pot, and this went on for several days, so each time he woke, he again thought he was in Heaven. (His father was a minister of the fire and brimstone variety). He was finally strong enough to get up and walk around one day, and he gingerly made his way downstairs to the kitchen, where the whole family jumped up to aid him. HIs uniform was mended, starched and pressed, and folded neatly on a chair. He finally found his way back to his troops and was sent to recover back home. He weighed 185 when he jumped and was down to about 130 when he was reconnected to his company.
Many years later, in the ’90’s my nephew was in Germany with the Army, and was sent out on the big games day. He and 2 friends were discovered in a hay mow in a barn on the outskirts of a town. (Sorry, I didn’t pay attention to the names.) HE looks like my father’s twin except with a tan, as his father is Hispanic. Anyway, when the grandmother saw my nephew she asked if he was from Texas, to which he replied Yes. She asked if his grandfather was B.P. Fuller, and he said yes. He was feted and hailed as a hero, and when his time was up to return to base, they drove him and his 2 friends 2 blocks outside the base in Wurtzburg and dropped them off. With all the beer and sausages they had consumed, each had gained about 10 lbs, and they strolled in with freshly ironed and starched uniforms. Their CO questioned them, but they said nothing. This grandmother was the beautiful young lady who had nursed my Dad during his stay in their attic, which was whitewashed, giving my Dad the idea he was in heaven. I wish I could find out more information, but when he died, none of us kept the paperwork he had accumulated. We were just too angry at what this black orderly had done to kill him at the Dallas V.A.
My father was with the 6AARR and came in on the gliders at Pegasus Bridge the night before D-Day he was attached to the Ox and Bucks I don’t know what his part was in the operation he was a very modest man and didn’t talk much about it thank God for people like him who made this world a better place
My uncle, Gordon Champion, was a paratrooper with the 517th PIR. He trained at Toccoa, GA and I remember him saying he was in the 2nd “E”asy Company. That statement only came after the Band of Brothers series came out on TV. He was in Germany through 1946.
My father in law’s first cousin was Col. Robert F. Sink of Lexington, NC, of the 506th PIR, 101st Div. during much of WWII. My father in law received a letter from then Col. Sink dated February 2, 1945(soon after Bastogne) saying, with great understatement : “Christmas here was most unusual, and I hope that it is the last one that I have under such conditions. It was, however, an inspiration to see the operation of these soldiers under conditions which may have been termed as trying.”
The grasshopper clickers were used when the U.S. forces were behind the enemy lines as a means of identification. Perhaps someone else can say more about this. My husband is an avid reader and remembers reading about this. He does not know anything about solders eating grasshoppers as a food source but says it probably did happen. My first cousin died at Normandy.
Wanted to add a few remarks about my cousin Robert Omega Benton. He was not killed on D-Day but on June 18, 1944.The following copied from World War II Young American Patriots, 1941-1945 “Pfc. U.S. Army, Age 26. Entered service Apr. 4, 1943, Camp Wolters,Tex; Ft. Benning, Ga; La. Maneuvers; Nebr.; England. Killed in action in France, June 18, 1944. Awarded PH, 3 BS, CIB, G. Cond. M. Attended Goldsboro H.S. Free Will Baptist Church. Son of Mrs. and the late Mr. S.B. Benton, Goldsboro, NC. Husband of Mrs. Sallie Walker Benton, Rt. 2, La Grange, N.C.: Got the info from Ancestry.com.
My dad Philip Shofner was with the 101st Screaming Eagles and also the 52nd. He landed on D-Day near St Mare Igles and was shot in the arm and that was the end of the war for him. When he was being evacuated, a friend said come with him but the boat was full. He later saw his friend’s ship being sunk. What almost killed him was the medication. I think it was pencillan and being a new drug they were guessing at dosages. Left him in the hospital for many months. He met my mother in England. When he finally went home to Shelbyville TN, he did war bond drives.
He was 502PIR Co C.
My father was with the Screaming Eagles also, his name was Edward M. Blasko. He told me he was the cook in the outfit, and that many times just after he left the tent it was blown up. That is all he told me about the war but like I said in my other quote I have a book they but together that did show some pictures that many of men did not want to see again.
Do you have lists of men with their unit during the time they served overseas?
Sharon,
I just have one Edward M Blasko … if it’s correct he was at the 101st Airborne, 801st Ordnance Company.
Domi
I forgot one thing, he was with the Screaming Eagles, that I know for sure. I have a book that he had that has that name on it.
Sharon, if you have some pictures with him wearing his uniform … or maybe his discharge ???
Domi
Domi,
His discharge papers are falling apart, it is so fragile. I have other pictures besides him in his uniform, I have pictures of him next to a glider, with his men and lots more. Where are you located? Do you have a private email address where I could maybe write you or send the pictures too?
I know his basic training was down south somewhere, my mother went down to watch them jump. They lost men before the even went over seas, their parachutes did not open. My mother thought my Dad was one of the men, but my Dad was in the hospital because he thought he was having a appendix attack. He was lucky that day, and my Mom was so relief to hear where he was.
Has anyone heard that story?
Looking forward to hearing from you
Sharon
Gloria – my dad said the first thing you did was get rid of the clickers since the Germans figured it out and used them to lure Allies.
My uncle Andrew Kasprzyk, was an airborne paratrooper, from what I’ve been able to find out with the 17th. He took an artillery shell between the thighs, to the bone, each leg, while jumping Into ?. Afterward, while under treatment, the field hospital tent he was in, caught fire. He was able to save himself by rolling out on the floor and out of the tent.
The story was passed to me as a kid. I worked with him for 10 years at U.S Steel until 1980. I was in my 20s then and worked with many a WWII vet.
Your uncle was a 194GIR, 17th Airborne.
I HAD A FRIEND WHO’S DAD WAS GEORGE B.
NEWPORT HE WAS IN A CO. 506th PIR
INVASION OF HOLLAND KIA SEPT. 17 OR 18
1944 MENTIONED IN BOOK BY BURGETT
TRYING TO DETERMINE IF HE JUMPED ON D DAY
Mr Cottet,
I have a big roster about the US Airborne, during the WW2 . I can’t say where I found this info but George B Newport 506/A made the D-Day combat Jump.
Dominique Potier
Everette Richard Shaw was born in Camden, South Carolina on January 16, 1919. He was the son of John Daniel Shaw, Jr. and Carrie Eugenia Bradley. His mother’ s family Bible lists his name as Everett Richard Shaw and that he died on February 5, 1945. However, his military records and his tombstone refer to him as Everette R. Shaw. There is a difference of one day as to which day he died. The records of the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment Troopers Killed in Action During World War II state that Shaw, Everette R., D company, died February 4, 1945 at Imus on Luzon Island in the Phillipines. He was a Private. The difference in the date can be explained by the fact that there is a difference in time zones and someone may have recorded the day in the United States when the message was received. The date is only important when researching what was happening with his unit at the time he was killed in action. His niece, Bobbie Sims, remembers the story at the time of his death that he was shot during a parachute jump. It appears from the reports that he landed safely and continued his mission for about 20 miles until he was killed at Imus. We have not reviewed his official military files so we do not know what is recorded there. (The military records were destroyed in a fire at the government storage center.) One member of G company, 511 PIR wrote of his experiences on the February 3, 1945 parachute jump. It is on the internet at http://groups.msn.com/G511thAirborne/markstank2.msnw. The jump was at Tagaytay Ridge on Luzon island. He wrote that It was easy getting out of the chute. No shooting. He did say that there were a half dozen jump injuries. Then he described how they traveled about twenty miles on trucks and jeeps …before the scouts ran into Japanese resistance just south of Imus. Imus is a small town just about four to five miles east of the big U. S. prewar Naval Base at Cavite. We then got off the trucks and started on by foot. As we moved on, hundreds of Filipinos surrounded us with cheers and tears screaming Mabubay. They gave us water, bananas, papayas and mangoes. The sheer joy on their faces is still hard to forget. At one crossroad, there was a four-piece Filipino band struggling with the Star Spangled Banner. We spread out. E-511th PIR was on our left and D-511th PIR on our right, which put HQ2-511th PIR right smack dab in the middle of the entire 511th PIR advance. We moved down the road, out of the highlands into flat terrain with lots of trees and some buildings. Imus itself is about three hundreds yards off Highway 17. A narrow black top road ran through the town square, then back to the highway. About halfway down this road lay a couple dead troopers from E-511th. This was probably troopers from D company and not E company. On February 4, 1945, D company lost the following troopers at Imus: Shaw, Everette R. Tahsler, Clifford G. Walter, Anthony G. Gumm, Henry F. Rathert, Edward. On the same date and place, E company lost: Wilson, Edgar L. The major battle at Imus was a stone church which the Japanese had taken up positions in and could not be forced out. One trooper from E company climbed up to the top of the building, cut a hole, poured 5 gallons of gas into the building and dropped in a grenade. Twenty to thirthy Japanese soldiers were machine gunned when they ran out. Some escaped in a truck but were machined gunned by D company which had set up a light machine gun to block any escape.
March 17, 1945 North Carolina (name of newspaper (,,,LE I…) Obituary article. EVERETTE RICHARD SHAW – KILLED IN ACTION Everette Richard Shaw, paratrooper, was killed February 5th 1945 on Luzon. The message from the War Department was received the 25th of February but due to the serious illness of his wife, the information was given no publicity at the time. Everette Shaw, private, was the son of Mrs. Carrie Shaw and the late John D. Shaw of Camden, S. C., and was 26 years old. He entered service in June 1940 and served in Panama and South America, returning to the States in 1943. He was sent to Camp Chaffee, Arkansas, and from there to Maryland, then to Fort Monroe, La., for coast artillery training. There he was transferred to paratroopers and went to Fort Benning, Ga. for his jump training. He received the wings of the paratrooper at Fort Benning in late September 1944 and from the 1st through the 13th of October he was on leave, reported to Fort Monroe for two weeks advance work before going to Fort Ord, California, in November. He went overseas in November and for the month of December was in New Guinea, going from New Guinea to the Phillippines where he was in combat missions. The last letter his wife received from him, dated January 21, was written from a rest camp where he was spending a short time following combat. He spoke of the successful combat mission just completed and mentioned the hardships of conditions during action, saying that the inch by inch progress over the mountians made one realize what war really is.
A letter confirming the death message of the War Department that Private Shaw was killed February 5th on Luzon has been received by Mrs. Shaw. Mrs. Shaw is the former Mary Elizabeth Blackwelder, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. P. Blackwelder. She was living in Baltimore when she was married to Private Shaw. With her parents and small brother, she returned to Statesville to live the last of January, 1945, became seriously ill and was and was a patient in the hospital when news of her husband’s death was received. She was not given the message until last week. Surviving Private Shaw with his wife is an infant daughter, Carolyn Elizabeth Shaw, now in an incubator at the H. F. Long Hospital. Also surviving are Private Shaw’s mother, who is here at the present on a visit to her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Everette Shaw; three sisters and two brothers. The sisters are: Mrs. Kate Brewer of Rock Hill, S. C.; Mrs. Grace Brewer of Camden, S. C.; and Mrs. John Crolley of Charleston, S. C. The two brothers, both in service, are John D. Shaw, Seaman 2-c, now in the naval hospital in Charleston after sea duty in the Pacific and Pfc. Elgie Shaw, Air Corps, stationed in Geneva, Nebraska. There are four brothers-in-law in service also: Archie A. Brewer, Seaman 2-c and Charlie H. Brewer, Seaman 1-c, husbands of his sisters, are both in the Atlantic area serving in the U,S,N.R., and Wade Blackwelder, Seaman 1-c and W. Frank Blackwelder, Petty Officer 2-c, ship-fitter, are both on duty in the Pacific area. Private Shaw’s family is identified with the Baptist church of Camden, S. C.; his wife is a member of the Methodist church.
My Grandfather Francis Marion Huntsinger.
Jumped and is buried in Rome.
I’d like to learn more about him and possibly find any photos of him.
I’ve never seen a picture.
I believe him to be in the 82nd.
He was declared dead in 1944
Pfc Francis M Huntsinger. 82nd Airborne, 376PFAB.
Dominique Potier
According to the book “Circle and the fields of ‘Little America'”, which is a history of the 376th Parachute Artillery Batallion, 82nd Airborne, your Grandfather Private Francis M Huntsinger of Battery C was reported missing in action during operation “Horrified” (p.180). He was later reported among those who gave their lives in Sicily (p. 176). My father also served in the 376th, Headquarters Battery. Your grandfather’s name is inscribed on the Wall of Missing in the Sicily-Rome Cemetery.
This great! Thanks to all of our WWII
veterans. We need to remember these young men who ran to the fight to keep all of us safe.
My dad was Army Air Corp B-17.
Master Sargents.
God BLESS them all!
My father PFC Joseph R. Sukovich was a paratrooper in WWII. He was in the 508th PIR attached to the 82nd Airborne from 1943-1945. During his time in Europe he fought in Central Europe, Rhineland, Ardennes (The Battle of the Bulge) and Normandy (The Battle of Normandy D-Day). He was wounded in Belgium and was honorably discharged on March 13th, 1945. He received many medals including the Purple Heart.
i served with the 1st engineers combat battalion in ww2 ,france and gerhany my story is in the book eight stars to victory.90 years old now and typind and spelling not my thing David jacobs [email protected]
Sir,
Thank you for your service and so glad you contributed to the discourse.
Thanks so much Sir for what you did for my country … we will never forget … never …
SFC Dominique Potier
Belgium Army
LIEGE, Belgium
Potier Dominique, you seem to have a lot information, maybe you can help me. My father served in WWII as a paratrooper. His name was Melvin Lorin Schreiner born in Kansas in 1925. His services records like many were destroyed by fire. He had several patches because like he said his units kept getting destroyed so he was reassigned. He never spoke of specifics when I was younger & then as he got older his memory failed he could not recall. I know he “jumped” the Rhine & was in the Battle of the Bulge. That is where he took shrapnel & had his feet froze. In the hospital in France (I think) they wanted to amputate both his legs. He refused stating he was gonna walk out of the hospital or not leave alive. He recovered & returned to duty. He was then apart of patrols after the war ended. He spoke about rounding up hiding soldiers from all different countries who were starving, scared & didn’t know who to trust. That is about all I was able to gather from his time in Europe.
Hello K Scott,
Yes indeed I create a US Airborne roster (WW2 ) and I have currently 120.000 names from the 11th, 13th, 17th, 82nd, 101st and several independent unit …
Your father was a 17th Airborne, 194 Glider Infantry Regiment … they made a glider combat landing during Varsity … I don’t have more info but if you have some info you could share with me … If you want some info from the 17th and maybe find some story with your dad you can contact this association “Thunder for heaven” it’s creat by 17th Vet and still in charge with 17th relative and Vets ;
[email protected]
Domi
My dad, Jake Shelton was in the 82nd
Dominique Potter
My uncle was in WWII and died in the days after D Day Dewitt Harris was in the 101 , 502 PIR, 1st Bn, HQ company. He died 11June 1944 know Carentan, France. If you are others have any information or pictures please let me know
Fred Crawford.
Fred
Your Dad is buried in Normandy :
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=harris&GSfn=dewitt&GSbyrel=all&GSdy=1944&GSdyrel=in&GSob=n&GRid=56645359&df=all&
Did you try to contact the cemetery itself ??? sometimes they have some info about the heroes buried in the cemetery .
My dad was Albert J Madaline of the 17th Airborne Div. light artillery that jumped the Rhine and wound up fighting in Wesel Ger. He was part of the 464th light artillery that was attached to the 507th parachute infantry div. Like so many men, he talked very little about the war. It was only in his later years that he gave the family info we never knew like the fact that he landed in a barn after being dropped. There will never be a generation like theirs again. There are 2 books specifically about the 17th Airborne Division called Thunder From Heaven written by D.R. Pay (ISBN:0-89839-311-6
Yes a generation of men that didn’t seek attention for the sacrifices they made as young men. I must always thank the families of veterans for there service, after all they sacrificed there freedom for our country’s freedom. It’s very admirable.
Al,
My book “Missing in Belgium” is also about the 17th Airborne Division
Russ
My father, Pvt. Raymond E. Vazquez (aka Ramon Vazquez) was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne, 3rd Battalion, 508 Regiment “D” Company. I know he was part if the Normandy Invasion and landed in “Sainte Mere Eglise”. He also fought in the Battle of the Bulge” He was injured and received a medical discharge (not sure of the date). I know he was awarded a couple of medals which have been lost. His military records were destroyed in the fire of the National Archives. He passed away in March 2008. He was born in San Diego, CA in February 1925.
My father was Oliver T Burgess who joined the Army right after Pearl Harbor was attacked and started out at Ft Hayes. He was shipped to Camp Roberts where they began training in Communications. The Army asked for volunteers for Paratroopers and he’jumped’ at the chance for a transfer. Training took place at Ft. Benning and in the Georgia Mountains near Toccoa. He was shipped to Glasgow, Scotland in January 1944 on the George Goethals arriving February. With additional training he jumped into Normandy on D-Day with additional action in Veghel Holland in September 1944 and Bastone, Belgium in December. He was a Staff Sargent in Supply for 501st Parachute Infantry attached to the 101st Airborne Division for all combat. His actions to supply the troops with ammo during the Battle of the Bulge led to a Silver Star and Purple Heart. He returned to the States on the USS Wakefield in September 1945. While he did not talk a lot about the action, he had pictures from training and a large book that showed Armed Forces activities for D-Day until the end of the war. He attend a few reunions with Army Buddies one of which was at Ft Lee, VA where we were allowed to jump from a 24 ft tower.
I don’t know if you already read these books but your father was on picture in …
“D-Day minus” and “Orange is the color of the day”
Domi
Mr. Potier,
Do you have any information on unit or pictures of my Daddy, Willie O. Steadman, from Mobile, Alabama? He served in the 101st Airborne Division, 502 Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion, Company I. He jumped June 6, 1944 D-Day into Normandy, Sept. 17, 1944 into Holland, Operation Market Garden and fought in Battle of the Bulge at Bastogne where he was wounded. I did write off for all his military records but they were destroyed in a fire at the military storage building. He passed away January 13, 1995.
Thank you for your time,
Marjorie S. Lambright
I first want to thank all our Veterans for their service to our country. I am one that still gets tears in their eyes when I see our American flag flying high or hear the Star Spangled Banner.
My Daddy, Willie O. Steadman was in the 101st Airborne, 502 Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion, Company I. He was a radio man and jumped on June 6, 1944, D Day, into Normandy. The regiment had a scattering drop. Daddy landed in a swamp in waist deep water and had to find his unit. So many others were not so lucky. Was wounded in Carentan with shrapnel in his back but patched up and sent back to fight. Was also in the drop on September 17, 1944, Operation Market Garden, in Holland. He was also in the Battle of the Bulge and wounded again with shrapnel in his eye which sent him back to England and then on to the States to a hospital in El Paso, Texas where he recouped and later discharged August 6, 1945. I’m very proud of my Daddy and his stand for freedom!!!
Sounds like our dads may have known each other. Both in 101st 502 but I think my dad was in Company C
My uncle Sam Kramer served General Patton as a direct Sgt. Staff Specialist. He received the French Legion of Honor Chevalier for liberation of French Villages after Para-trooping in during Normandy. The award, given him at the French Embassy on the occasion of his 92nd Birthday by the French Ambassador, livened up the last five years of his life. He’d earned many awards in his service in Europe, but none so sweet as this. He accepted it on behalf of himself and “the men of my company” all of whom he remained close to (or their surviving families) after the war, and who one by one passed before him.
Sam played a lasting role upon his return in the VFW in the Tompkins County area of New York, and would get together regularly with the many other family members who were all also heroic veterans. I called them my “band of Uncles”. Most of all, they are my heroes as well!! Part of a Generation of Heroes, often forgotten today by later generations…
What a nice story about your Uncle. Thank you for sharing. I do some volunteer work with old veterans in their 80s and 90s in my area and have learned much from then. Thanks for posting.
That’s amazing factual story to hand down to future generations. Thank you for your families service for my family’s freedom.
I thank him and all veterans for their sacrifice and service. They were and are the greatest generation! It’s sad that so many young people today have no idea how important all of our veterans are.
My father, Laurence J Welsh, entered the Army in January 1941 and volunteered for the Paratroops in April 1942, reporting to Fort Benning, Ga. for jump school. After graduating in May 1942, he was assigned to F Company 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment which was activated into the 101st Airborne Division on Aug. 16, 1942, making him an original member of the 101st Airborne Division. He was an Operation Sergeant when the 502nd was sent to England. He jumped onto Utah Beach, Normandy France in the early morning hours of D-Day, June 6, 1944. He was wounded but continued to fight through France. He jumped again on “Market Garden” at Best Holland on Sept. 17, 1944, the Invasion of Holland. Badly
wounded, he was eventually evacuated and in April 1945 was medically discharged. His awards included two Purple Hearts, three Bronze Stars, Combat Infantry Badge, Parachutist Badge, two Presidential Unit Citations, French Croix de Guarre, Belgium Fourragere, and Netherlands Orange Lanyard, among others. In recent years, he was awarded the Certificate of Recognition of D-Day Veterans in appreciation of the Liberation of France by the French Government. Also by order of the Secretary of the Army he became a Distinguished member of the reactivated 101st, 502nd at ceremonies conducted at Fort Campbell, Ky. He died in January, 2005.
Sean,
If you have Facebook try this : 327 Glider Infantry Screaming Eagle . For me it’s the best pace to find info about the 327GIR . A good friend of mine who lives in NC fought with the 327GIR/G
Domi
judy,
You can find 2 pictures with your father in 2 books ; “The Screaming Eagle at Normandy” and “Vanguard to Crusade”
Domi
Hi Domi!
You seem to have access to some important records. I’m researching the 2nd Battalion 401st Glider Infantry Regiment at Normandy. I have morning reports from this period, but I really hope to find company rosters for this unit in order to do more detailed research. Do you know where I can find them? Or can you provide me with that info? Thanks,
Sean
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!! What a great list of stories about these men (kids really), who fought and died during World War 11. Most of them came back and got on with their lives saying little to nothing about what they had seen and done….I salute them all for they are gradually fading away… here’s to keeping their memories alive…God bless them all..
My father served in 101st, 502 regiment, A company. His records were burned in the fire at the records center in 1973, so I have very little info on his actions. I know he arrived late, in Jan 1945. I do have his discharge which notes that he received service medal, victory medal, service medal with 2 bronze stars.
Battles and Campaigns states Rhineland Central Europe, G0 195 WD 45
Sorry his name was James Willaim Jones
My uncle, Major Milton Evans Dowse, was in the 508th Parachute Infantry and a communications officer. My cousin, David Paul Dowse, interviewed him in his later years. David wrote a spiral bound book that contained the interview. My Uncle Milton parachuted on D-Day. He was scheduled to drop at St. Mere Eglise, but ended up being off course. He talks about trying to find his was back to St. Mere Eglise but after a few days of wandering was captured. He said that for the few days he was trying to find his way back, and before he was captured, he helped some others tear down telephone lines, plus damage as many other things as he could.
My Uncle Milton was a POW at Oflag 64 Prisoner Camp.
This book that my cousin, David, put together is very informative. He included a lot of background information about D-Day and about the prison camp my uncle was in.
Do you only deal with American servicemen WW2 not British because I have read the blogs and they are all Americans
My father was in the 82 nd. Was wounded on Anzio beach and survived despite being shot 3 times before he landed and shot 2 more times in the head to be sure he was dead. His name was Herbert Daniel Carter and he was in the Devil’s Brigade, he was paralysed and shipped back to White Sulphur Springs for rehab, at the now Greenbrier Hotel which at the time was Ashford General Hospital. He was employed for years at a paper mill in Covington, Va. His unit was awarded the congressional Medal of Honor in 2015. He did not live to see that day he died in 2010 from complications from his wounds.
My father, Robert W. Hurley, Jr., was in the Headquarters Battery of the 675th GFA of the 11th Airborne. I know from his discharge papers that he left the USA on 31 Aug. 1945 and returned 23 September 1946. I know that he was in the Philippines and in Japan. He never talked about his time overseas, and I would like to know anything about the 675th. Shortly before his death we went to my sister’s son’s Jump School graduation. That grandson is currently a Captain in the Special Forces.
R Hurley,
https://sites.google.com/site/seans11thairborne/Home
Domi
Oh My Goodness, my father Howard E Bowers was also in the 11th Airborne of the 675th!!!!! He was a staff Sargent. I bet they knew one another!
Thanks for the reply. Do you know which battery and time frame for your father? I found a picture album of Dad’s that had a few pictures of his time overseas. The other troopers in the pictures were not identified as I recall.
I read once that one of the reasons the Germans had such problems with their paratroopers was the harness. Like most cartoons, the harness connected to a single point on the back, leaving the trooper with no way to steer. US & British chutes had a full harness that attached at the shoulders. The US version had special cords the trooper could pull to steer and even stall the chute.
The steering “cords” are called toggles.
Another major difference in paratrooper doctrine is that the fallschirmjaer jumped “naked”, i.e., without their small arms, which were parachuted down in a separate weapons canister. Many of them carried pistols in a pocket of their “bone sacks”, i.e., jump smocks, putting them at a distinct disadvantage until they could locate the weapons canisters and properly arm themselves.
Joseph D. Thompson was one of the officers amongst the 101st Airborne Division, which successfully took the leading role in liberating the occupied areas in the Netherlands, Austria etc.
He is our hero, of whom we have not been able to learn more than just a photo taken in Austria in the spring 1945.
We would be delighted to hear anything about his later life in the USA.
Are you a member of Fold3? If so, enter his name in the search box on the home page. It could bring up all sorts of information about him. If not, find a family history center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints near you. They will help you access Fold3 and many other sources to find information on Joseph.
Dear Mary,
Thank you for your kind advice. I am not a member of Fold3, but must consider it now.
Best Regards,
Mr. Jan Henriksson
Hello Jan. I assume You are one of the Folks Who take care of Our war dead in Your Country. On behalf of the American People, Thank You! I hope to someday visit and see these places Myself. 🙂
Hello Michael,
Actually I’m a Finn, but my mother met with Mr. Thompson in Austria back in 1945 and gave birth to their child in February 1946. This child is my elder brother, who would just be delighted to hear anything about his handsome father.
All we know is that Joseph was about to leave from Europe in September 1945.
I remember when I was in the second or third grade (1957-1958) that my teachers husband had died while jumping on D*Day. I believe he served in the 101st. God Bless Him and all the others who served!
My father was WW II member of 508th PIR. As an officer, mostly did training state side. Was on a ship near the signing ceremony for Japanese surrender, then a member of the Occasional Forces after. I think he was also in the 511 th.
My wifes uncle was a member of the 101st Airborne and was in the gliders that landed in France after D Day. He also ended up in the Ardeenes during the ” Battle of the Bulge” and was able to survive but would never say much about it after he came home.
My father was in the 101st and in the Gliders that landed in France. He also survived. I have been to fold3 and can’t seem to navigate to the 101st or any paratrooper section. I put in his name and lots of hits come back but none are in the “paratrooper” divisions. I even tried typing in paratrooper but nothing come back like 101st or 82nd. I am very confuse by this site. May be me though.
My father Robert Woten was a glider pilot in France. He also would never talk about it. There must’ve been a lot of horrible things happen and loss of friends. I never got any details. I know he spoke of a friend Skip who survived also. He survived all his glider missions but then lost his life in a crop duster plane crash at the age of 53. He loved to fly and died doing what he loved. I would love to hear more about men like him who flew those glider missions never knowing if they would have a way to return. Amazing!
My cousin Glen Lofties was in the 101st and jumped in on DDay. He was also in the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarde two bronze stars and some other medals. However, they were lost shortly after the war when his parents house burned. I’ve been told that many of these records were lost in another fire that burned records in St. Louis.
Not ALL the records were burned, as was later found out. Write directly to the Army records section of the archives. I don’t have the address but you can Google it. Good luck. (Be sure and give all the identifying information you have on the veteran.)
My brother Frank was in the 17th He landed in France by glider. They crash witch many did. When he returned to England he in listed in the paratroopers because it was safer. He then jumped in to France. Got hung up in a tree. Cut himself free and fell 25 ft. to the ground. Broke bones in his back. Never said anything but, the “Germans one night passed with in 50 yards and no one fired a shot” He came home and lived to 97.
My father was in the 17th, 193 GIR; he made 3 glider invasions, and survived.
You need to give the British Special Air Service, SAS, a lot of credit as they were dropped behind German lines in all of the N. Africa and European Campaigns. Not only used as light infantry but also mobilize infantry.
My father was an army medic in The Battle of the Bulge also in the Ardennes.
Drafted at a young age and trained in Texas. Never talked about it when we were growing up. Wears a WWll cap proudly and at times would join buddies for summer picnics given in their honor.
My husbands aunt made the parachutes when enlisted as a wave. She belonged to a group of waves with her sister for many years until it was disbanded when all werre getting up in age and became too difficult to travel. They were a special group of ladies.
Glad you mentioned the WAVES. Women made a tremendous contribution making the war winnable by not just filling essential positions in the women’s services but working on the home front. My mother and all her cousins worked at the Fall River Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts building ships and taking the places of men who went to war. In reality, whether working on the home front or being overseas, all Americans were ‘at war.’ Thanks for posting.
My Uncle was a Medic in the Battle of the Bulge, & trained in Texas, also.
Do you know what battalion/unit?
He was in the 84th Infantry Division, 334th Reg. – in Germany and Belgium. He was shot in Belgium and another time and then sent back to his unit.
He does remember names of some of the men he trained with in Texas and mentioned how hot the marches were that the men would be passing out due to the heat.
If anyone knows a book that was published about the 84th Infantry please let me know how to order a copy for my father is still living and would appreciate seeing a copy. The division was called the Railsplitter Division and I found a summary online on ushmm.org. We did take him to Washington to see various monuments which he seemed to enjoy the trip but I’m sure it was emotional at times to see all those names honored.
I will try to get a few names from him to see if anyone on this thread might have a family member in the same location during those years.
Cindy,
This is some books talking about the 84th … I know one vet still alive who lives in Alexandria VA .
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_6?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=84th+infantry+division&sprefix=84th+i%2Caps%2C235&crid=MBZMMAIJSU5V
Domi
My uncle Dale Collon Hudson, Aredale, Iowa was in the 82nd Airborne Company F and was a paratrooper pathfinder. He departed from England in plane #10 on the eve of D-Day. My father (his brother) thought he was in a glider. He was killed on June 16th, 1944 (10 days after D-Day). Twice, Uncle Dale purposely ran into the line of fire to save his comrades. He was a very handsome, athletic and smart man. He received medals.
A few years ago, I found a man who said that his father was a very close friend of my uncle Dale. He said that my Uncle Dale’s picture hung up in his parent’s living room and his brother was named after my Uncle Dale. This was a true friendship born in the war.
Six months after Dale died, My father was drafted and signed up for the paratroopers; however, he was sent overseas to Italy before his paratrooper training due to changes that were occurring with the Battle of the Bulge.
My father came home from the war.
Another brother Carl Hudson was in the Naval Air corps and died in an airplane crash in 1946.
During this time, their sister Doris was in the WAVES.
It had to be a rough time for this family of 13 in rural Iowa.
MY BROTHER WAS IN THE 82nd AIRBORNE IN THE ASHAU VALLEY IN ’67. HIS UNI T WAS OVER-RUN AND HE AND HIS FOXHOLE BUDDY WERE AMONG THE FEW TO SURVIVE. HE GOT THE BRONZE STAR FOR VALOR AND WAS APPOINTED THE BATTALION C.O.’S DRIVER FOR ABOUT A WEEK TILL HE AND A BUDDY GOT DRUNK AND TOTALED THE JEEP IN A RIVER BOTTOM. HE WAS IN THE FIELD THE NEXT DAY.
My father was with the 101st Airborne during WWII and I many pictures of which he took when he was over seas. He was in a platoon that was following Hitler, and I have pictures of his car after they recovered it. I have other things that my father received from the time he and his Army buddies went through. He made a friend in Holland, Switzerland and I am sure other places, I love the souvenirs he brought back. I have been trying to seeing if any of his buddies are still alive. My father passed away in 2003.
Thank you so much
My Great Uncle Harold E. Hibbard was in the 101st Airborne and parachuted into Ste Mere Eglise in Normandy, France on D-Day. He didn’t survive the jump.
He was one of 5 brothers that served in WWII. The rest came home and lived into their 90s. My Grandpa, his brother, spoke of him until his dying week, as if he was with him days before. I was blessed to be in Normandy for the 70th anniversary. We camped on the beach with thousands of others. It was amazing. I was honored to touch the land that buried my Uncle until nearly a decade later when it was safe to bring him home.
Reading the stories you all have posted has meant a lot to me. I will cherish each of these stories.
My Father was a paratrooper in the 11th that jumped into the Philippines he also jumped into Germany. All of his children were girls so we didn’t get many stories about the war but he told all of his grandsons a lot more about that time in his life.
Hi Vicki,
My Father Howard E Bowers was also in the 11th Airborne Division!!!! Email me at [email protected]
Heather
My husband was a combat medic in Vietnam and I have found throughout the years that most, if not all, veterans who saw combat don’t about their experience. My brother was also in the Navy in the South Pacific in WWII and never told anyone what he saw. He use to have terrible nightmares as well as my husband does.
I an sorry I left out the word “talk” about their experience.
My father, Kenneth F. Nelson was in Headquarters Battery, 376th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion, 82nd Airborne. He was in from North Africa through Germany, serving as Staff Sergeant. Among other awards, he received the Silver Star, Purple Heart, and Belgian Croix de Guerre avec Palme, along with five Bronze Stars. He never let on that he was any sort of war hero, but in his later years, he told me many war stories.
Dad served much of his time behind the lines as a radio operator calling in and directing fire on the enemy. He told me about many times when divine intervention was the only thing that kept him alive.
A few years before he died, he wrote a short manuscript summarizing his war experience. It is a gift that is one of the most prized things he left us. We are only now realizing the costs that the ‘Troopers paid to help maintain and guarantee our freedom. We are both proud of and thankful to all of them.
I forgot to add that though Dad (Kenneth F. Nelson) served in the 82nd All Americans throughout the war, he was transferred to the 101st at the end of the war and came home a Screaming Eagle. I don’t know which unit he was in after the transfer, but would love to find that out.
Gilbert,
I just read your comment and wondered if you ever reached out to a publisher to write the manuscript so other veterans can read his story? I was hoping to have my father write down his experience in WWll as a medic. We have a local film maker in our area that was interviewing veterans but I never saw any thing published. Thanks
His manuscript was only about 15 pages long, so I doubt it would be “publishable” on its own, but I was wondering if there are others who have written their experiences. It would be wonderful if someone were to put together a book of remembrances like that, and I wouldn’t be averse to including his stories in a collection.
Good luck with your research. I’m glad that I started on Ancestry to be connected to all of these families with veterans. I will be seeing my father today and would like to have his stories recorded by our local WWII group that links these stories to the Library of Congress. You could probably do that also and look into any resources that would honor these men with a published book. I would love to see that happen.
Cindy,
If you have a local filmmaker that plans on doing a documentary about our WW2 paratrooper families, I would like to get my uncle’s story ( 513th PIR, 17th Airborne Division, Battle of the Bulge ) included.
I plan to call his office just to see if any plans are being made to publish those interviews before all these soldiers pass.
We have a local organization that has speakers on a regular basis but I do not know if they record the speaker.
Google under Lehigh Valley Veterans History Project.
or http://www.lvveteranshistory.org
Dominique Poitiers, would the foreign military offices have records of the medals they gave to the soldiers? I might be able to find something for my father there, B.P. Fuller. I am sure the Belgian office might have some records, if so. Thank you. You are doing us all a wonderful service.
Hi Gilbert! My dad told us he did the same for a time when he parachuted in. We were watching some war movie when I was a kid, so this must have been the late 50’s or early 60’s. He said the radios were the crank variety to generate the electricity to send it. Originally, he was just carrying it in a backpack, and his senior officer was calling in the coordinates, but he got killed so my dad took over.
That’s exactly what dad always told me. It was a multiple-person job, because not only did they have to carry the radio, but they also had to carry the line, because they didn’t transmit over the air. Basically it was a huge telephone line.
One time when Dad was out on a mission, everybody else on the team was killed, so Dad captured a German (turned out it was an officer), and made him carry the radio and line up a hill. Boy was that a mess! Since he was an American and the other guy was a German, both sides were shooting at them. Plus, it was against the rules to make an enemy officer work. After they survived that day, when Dad turned the officer in, the German filed a complaint against him. There was some sort of trial after that – a court martial trial, I believe. When they questioned Dad, he told them that he had to finish the mission, and he couldn’t do it alone. When he captured the German, he was too deep in enemy territory to turn him over, and didn’t have time to do it, so his choice was to shoot the officer and fail in his mission, or else one of the two was going to have to carry the line and the other one carry the gun. Dad wasn’t about to let the German carry the gun. After the trial, instead of convicting Dad, they ended up giving him a commendation.
Funny how things happen sometimes.
WOW! I love this story!! What an amazing thing our guys did in that war!! And such a sense of humor too. Daddy always said the only reason why the alleged most decorated man in WWII, Audy Murphy, got all the medals was because he had a war correspondent assigned to record all his actions. If all the men who did heroic things had reported them, they would have a chest full of them. But bragging, or even discussing these actions, was frowned upon back then. Daddy held court every Sunday at the club room at Tenneco Country Cub, and besides giving us kids all that acreage to play in, it gave him an audience to regale with his knowledge of the war. Back then, a lot of men got jobs because of their service. He had only a 7th grade education due to the Depression, when his father abandoned the family, but Tenneco made it possible for him to go to night school to get special training for his work in the accounting department. It is a shame more companies today do not honor our war heroes and soldiers with the same commitment the earlier companies did. Now it’s all about Wall Street and profits.
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Technician Fourth Grade Kenneth F. Nelson (ASN: 17045079), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 376th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion, 82d Airborne Division on 7 January 1945, near ****, Belgium. Technician Fourth Grade Nelson, on duty with an artillery liaison party, accompanied the attacking company of infantry and tank destroyers on the mission of securing the towns of **** and ****, Belgium. Strong opposition was met by our force and the two leading tank destroyers were knocked out. Technician Fourth Grade Nelson, assisted by another member of the artillery liaison party, laid a vital line of communication over a distance of 2,000 meters, half of it through terrain in the process of being neutralized, and which was continuously under heavy fire from enemy artillery, machine guns and small arms. Several times during the attack Technician Fourth Grade Nelson had to fight off enemy snipers with rifle fire, and, although wounded by artillery fire, continued to lay and service his line until the mission was accomplished. This gallant action not only provided communication for the artillery forward to render very close artillery support for the attacking infantry, but also kept the infantry headquarters informed, materially assisting in the accomplishment of the mission.
Thanks! I know Dad had the orders somewhere in his papers, but we haven’t come across them yet. Oddly enough, even though he told me about many things from his army days, that’s one day he rarely talked about.
Cheryle about the Belgium Medals you can contact the Military attached at the Belgium Embassy in DC ; http://unitedstates.diplomatie.belgium.be/en
We have some soldier working in DC who maybe could help you, if not fell free to contact me again .
Domi
We had a dear friend, now deceased, who was with the 82nd Airborne. He jumped into Normandy at 2 am on June 6, 1944. Had a few stories to tell, that he had kept bottled up. He then jumped into Holland at Operation Market Garden.
German paratroopers were actually part of the Luftwaffe not army. Their “success” was part due to weapons canisters being dropped and not being carried by their personnel. Casualties were considered excessive in the Crete operation and their use discouraged. Later, these losses would pale as insignificant compared to those incurred on the Eastern Front by the Wehrmacht.
They did start out as Army, but Goring complained that, They should be part of the Luftwaffe, since planes were involved. And of course, He got His way. lol
To the people who wanted to hear stories of paratroopers and glider pilots.
I once knew a family from Revere, Massachusetts, whose father was a colonel in the Polish Air Force, He was commander of a glider group that flew countless missions into German territory in WWII. He was shot down four times, wounded he made it to England, was nursed back to health and went back to do it all again. He finally wound up marrying the nurse who kept putting him back together again. After the war she refused to move to Poland, where he was a national hero. Instead they came to America. Had two children…a daughter Irena (would be about 73 today. ALSO a son whose name I don’t recall.
His name was BZOWSKI (or BRZOWSKI) Don’t remember a first name. He was about 6’4″ and very muscular, hard working and soft spoken. Her name was Patricia. He worked as a bricklayer which was very demeaning for a man of his background. They were such a wonderful family I often wonder what happened to them. Last time I saw them was 1959.
Would welcome any news of any of them.
Yes, that is correct…..
Now, I have pictures he took when he was over there, wondering if you would like to see them and how?
I would like to introduce myself … maybe some of you thought who is this man who give some info …
First of all please apologize my English … I still study English and hope to be better …
My name is Dominique Potier . I’m an Belgium active soldier and I joined the Army in 1985 … I was a Belgium Airborne and it’s the reason why I made a free work about my heroes the US Airborne …
I’m really Lucky to meet many Airborne Vet from WW2, KO, VN and moderne war … all these heroes are important for me .
I have different way to keep the memory alive … My wife and I we have adopted several US grave here in Belgium . I also have driven several US Vet or family in the Battle Of The Bulge area as well as in Normandy .
I’m a member from the 505PIR and 508PIR family and Friends Association and have been several times in US for reunion .
Finally I collect since 2008 all info I found about the US Airborne and Airborne Tropp Carrier during the WW2 . I mix rosters, reports, website, vets info and I have almost 130 thousands names …
I’m looking for names, ASN, Unit and Cie, Combat Jumps or Glider landing … and hat for the 11th, 13th, 17th, 82nd, 101st and independent units like 517PRCT, 509PIB, 550GIB, 551PIB .
Any helps will be great … just need to say I’m not a writer and don’t want to write any books with my info … just want to help FAmily when they are looking for info .
Airborne all the way
God Bless America
Domi
I wanted to thank you for all your efforts. I am very grateful that the memory of what all our fathers, uncles, husbands did in WWII is still kept alive. Your research is invaluable to all of us. It is so appreciated.
Thank you!
Have you been in contact with Jan Bos? He’s from your neck of the woods, and he has written the only book that I know of about the 376th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion of the 82nd. If not, he may have some information to add to your database.
Thanks you once again for all that you are doing for all of us!
–Gilbert
Thanks Cheryle … I’m trying to do my best …
Gilbert , Jan Bos book is on my list but looks like on amazone they haven’t book currently … If you have some info you could share you can send me on my private mail : [email protected]
Thanks
Domi
Domi,
We family members should all be very grateful to you and those in Europe, especially in France, Holland & Belgium, who have done so much to help us find our own history. I have been to Holland twice amd spent a lot of time with the like of Tom Peeters and others like yourself who are so dedicated to the cause & entirely helpful. I look forward to travelling to Belgium within the next few years and hope to shake your hand and thank you in person.
Justin Saxon
grandson of Harold Mangini
101st Airborne
“C” co. 327th GIR
Thanks Justin , could you tell me more about your grand father ?
Domi,
To refresh: Harold Manginii (Garfield, NJ)327 GIR ‘C” co 101st. He fought from Normandy to the Eagles Nest without a scratch. He only opened to me and I have a decent amount of stories that he shared. One in particular I am interesting in finding when I come to Belgium. He was highly decorated vet . On that note, I really would like to spend Christmas in or near Bastogne when I come to Belgium. Thanks for your wok.
Justin,
Do you have his rank and ASN ??? he is still alive ???
Domi
Domi,
Yes, I have his service records. I can provide that info for you. His highest rank was tech sargeant and I believe this was by the time he entered Bastogne or during? He was a machine gunner. I have a lot of pictures and memorabilia that he didnt discard. Let me know and I can take pictures and send things to you if you want. He passed away in 2009
My father was a medic in Germany, Begium, Ardennes, he crossed the Roer and Elbe rivers. He fell out of the boat at one time and a german pow pulled him back into the boat. 334th Infantry. Railsplitters. He probably would be interested in seeing any pictures of the area you mentioned. Thanks
Cindy, I know the 84th ID … During the Battle of the Bulge they were in my garnison city … Marche En Famene … and I met several 84th Vet … Are you in touch with the 84th ID association ?
Domi
No. Not familiar with this organization. Let me know who they are please.
You can send an email to Mr Art Meier who is a 84th Vet : [email protected]
Explain who you are and what you are trying to find …
Domi
Justin, I’m really interesting by all you would like to share with me : my email is [email protected] .
Your father was he buried in Tom Rivers NJ ?
Domi,
Yes he is buried in Toms River, NJ.
I will certainly send you more information, pictures and other things I know & have…
Cheers to You and Your Family, and all the Folks Who take care of the Graves of Our war dead! And Thank You for Your service to the free world!
Thanks Michael
My mother’s brother Caley Jones Eady was with the 501st Airborne. He jumped on D-Day, June 6, 1944. He was listed as missing in action. His body was never found. He was awarded a Purple Heart. My mother said he joined the paratroopers to make more money to send home to his parents. My mother said he was a good, beautiful person who was willing to serve his country as did all four of his brothers. I wish I could have known him, but I am very proud to call him my uncle and proud of the sacrifice he made for our country.
https://www.abmc.gov/node/408289#.WIzDJ4WcGUk
My dad was in the paras serving in North Wfrice and Greece
Don’t really know to much of his army days as it was part of his past that he did not want to speak about( or did not want to remember) whenever we asked what he done in the war his reply wasJumped out aeroplanes over enemy lines
Would love to know more of his time in the war as only now that I have become more interested as to his life while doing a family tree
Jacquelinne could you tell your father’s name ?
Domi
Hi Domi
My dad was John Cherrie born 11/01/1927 in Glasgow Scotland
I think he did his training in Perth Scotland and Isle of Wight
Remember him booking a holiday to go to Holland as he said he was there with the army Arnham I think he mentioned ( not sure of the spelling ).
Thanks for the reply to my post
Hi Domi
My dads name was John Cherrie born 11\01\1927
And came from Glasgow Scotland.
Think he did his training in Perth but not to sure and Isle of Wright
Jacqueline, I don’t have your father in my data … can you tell me more ??? Do you have some pictures with him with his uniform … something who could help me ?
Domi
Sharon,
this is my email where you can contact me ; [email protected] .
Domi
[email protected] ;-)))
A friend of mine hade also a parachute injury before the transfert overseas … he was with the 508PIR … A great man
My father is BGEN (RET) David Edward Thomas, MC, USA. He was the first Regular Army Medical Officer to graduate from Airborne School. He held several different medical positions while in the Airborne which included serving, as a CPT, with then CPT James Gavin. “Slim Jim” Gavin finished WW II as a MGEN. My father finished the war as a MAJ. GEN Gavin was Infantry, my father was Medical Corps. So is life. My father’s assignment, prior to his shipment overseas, was as the Regimental Surgeon of the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment. The 508th was latter attached to the 82 Airborne Division. To make a long story short: he jumped into Normandy, was captured with a medic from the 101st Airborne Division, got put to work in a German field hospital which was shelled by artillery (probably American), and escaped during the shelling, He was later recaptured by (I think) the 1st ID. He had no identification (the Germans had taken all his stuff – to include his dog tags) and he was wearing a uniform (the Airborne combat uniform) unfamiliar to those who captured him. He was held in the POW compound until a representative from the 508th arrived to ID him, sign for him, and returned him to the 508th. He was involved in the “Battle of the Bulge” and made the combat jump into Holland. With all his combat exposure, and though he was shot at (after which he decided to remove his Red Cross (on white) arm band and paint over his helmet), he ended the war without a scratch. At the end of the war in Europe, he was quickly returned to the US. It was the policy of the War Department to return former POWs as quickly as possible to the United States. My father served in WW II, the Korean War Theater, and Vietnam (where he was the CG of the Medical Brigade). He died in 2002 shortly after his 90th birthday. I have lots of stories and should probably write a book. He did not talk much about the WW II until after one of the first 508th reunions – about 40 years after WW II. He spoke more about the war the last two years of his life. One of my fondest memories of my dad is his jumping with me in 1967 at Ft Bragg as my platoon medic. He wore his “old” 508th uniform – and it still fit! It was his first jump since jumping into Holland. He had Senior Jump Wings and continued jumping until he was awarded Master Wings. His assignment in Vietnam was both interesting, and controversial. Among other actions, he advocated “the reduction and control of sexually transmitted disease”, which was epidemic in many units, “by making the ‘product’ available thru the PX system. Thus allowing both the provider and buyer to be medically inspected and therefore provide a safer product”. I do not know all the ramifications or details of the proposal, but I do know it caused quite a stir at the Army Surgeon Generals Office and in Congress. I believe it cost my father a second star. It is of interest to note that such “actions” was common practice in some units – but NEVER made public knowledge, nor had it ever been previously suggested by the senior medical officer in Vietnam. After 33 years of service, my father retired in San Antonio, Texas. I know one thing for sure. My father was most proud of being Airborne, and of having been a soldier in the 508th PIR. Rest In Peace, Sir. I look forward to joining you when called.
CPT (Ret) Normand E Thomas, AUS.
Mr Thomas,
I have your father in my roster but could you tell me more about his units … I have him at the 307th Airborne Med Co detached to the 508PIR and I have him also at the 503PIR and 505PIR ??? maybe I’m wrong ???
I’m friend with Doc McIlvoy and Doc Franco’s families .
Domi
Shoot fire Domi. I have started to reply twice to your email but, when my wife interrupts me, I lost my “in progress” responses to the Internet black hole. So, I will start again. After I respond to you, I will respond to Cheryle Fuller. I have three appointments this afternoon so I may not get both responses finished today.
As far as I know, my father was NEVER in the 307th Airborne Medical Company. However, I do not know in what manner medical officers were assigned during WW II. They may very well have been assigned to the Airborne Medical Company for accountability and pay, and attached to their combat units for all other actions. That is a question which needs researched.
My father was injured in a training jump at either Ft Benning or Ft Bragg (Camp McCall) while assigned to a battalion other than the 508th. His “old” unit shipped out to North Africa while his leg was still healing. He was considered non-deployable. He was thus assigned to the “then forming” 508th. He was with the 508th thru their basic training, unit training, and jump training in the United States. He had completed his jump training prior to being assigned to the 508th PIR. As a matter of fact, I believe he completed his jump training prior to Pearl Harbor. I have his Certificate, someplace, and will look for it later.
The 508th left the USA via boat and arrived in the British Islands. His cantonment area was in Nottingham, England area. Training continued for the 508th PIR up to D-Day. As earlier stated, he stayed with the 508th thruout the war – except when he was in the service of the German Army. I have no knowledge about the unit that captured him, but he said the Nazi salute was quite prevalent whenever a staff car showed up at the field hospital – which, as I remember, was not a hospital at all but a large chateau.
I am not sure if he had assignments in the 503d and/or 505th. Because he was an “early” Paratrooper, he may have been assigned to a number of units as they were created. I will look at my records and find out what I can and report later to you.
I have pictures and newspaper articles which may be of interest to you. I would be most happy to send copies. However, I would need your mailing address to do so as I am not very PC literate. I also have an unedited, and incomplete, memoir of some of his service, mostly about WW II.
ANOTHER STORY HAS JUST ENTERED MY BRAIN HOUSING GROUP. Better write it down before I forget!
To jump with me in 1967, my father needed to be on jump status. He was the Commanding Officer of Womack Army Hospital, FT Bragg, NC. His TO&E position WAS NOT considered a jump slot. What then to do?
Well, as it so happened, we lived next door to LTGEN York, the CG XVIII ABN Corps and Commander, FT Bragg. I am unsure of the relationship between GEN York and my father but I think they had known each other for a long time. Maybe even since WW II. Well, to make a long story short, following is what I believe took place. However, I have no proof.
My father went either to GEN York’s quarters or to his office at HQ, XVIII ABN Corps. They may have talked about old times, may have had a drink or two, and my father presented his problem.
“Sir, I would like to jump with my son, Sir, who is being assigned to th 82d as a Infantry Platoon Leader. But alas, I am not on Jump status. To jump with my son would be a newsworthy event. The 82d, the XVIII ABN Corps, Ft Bragg, the Airborne Community, and the United States Army would receive positive press coverage. The event would help with retention and recruiting and would lead to the development of an Annual Leap Feast at Ft Bragg. Considering all positive potential, do you think there is any way I could be reinstated to jump status, Sir”?
OK, maybe my imagination goes a little bit too far. The bottom line, however, is that my father was assigned an “additional duty”. He became, so I was told, a Special Staff Officer with the title of “Special Surgical Consultant to the Commading General, XVII Airborne Corps”. Generals can do almost anything!
OH, AND ANOTHER STORY. BUT I MUST RUN NOW. Please remind me to tell you about his “SECRET” mission, which, I hope, is no longer a secret.
VR,
N E “Gus” Thomas.
Amazing story Gus … thanks so much to share it with us … My email is ; [email protected] .
Do you know CSM (Ret ) Rock Merritt ??? he lives in Fayetteville and was Fort Bragg CSM … he made the 2 combat Jumps with the 508PIR ??? I drove him last Aug in Belgium where the 508PIR fought … and where your father was too …
Do you know the website 508pir.org ??? and the 508PIR family and Friends ??? I’m a member from this association and they have a reunion every year … in 2018 it will be in Fort Bragg .
Domi
Mr. Thomas, you have an amazing history to be proud of! Not many men can say they served along side their dads or uncles! What a wonderful heritage you have to share with all of us. I would love to hear those stories.
I wish my dad had known your dad was in San Antonio. I have a house in Gruene, (I started the resurrection of it) and would have loved to entertain both of you since Gruene is so close to San Antonio. It did not seem that many of our heroes had much to say afterward or connected with each other for long. Sadly, both our dads are dead. I am sure if mine had his surgery here in San Antonio, and your dad had acknowledged him, he would have lived many more years. They probably would have stayed up all night many mights giving their perspectives on the different troop movements and battles.