In Memoriam · 16 June 2021
Joseph "Joe" O'BRIEN was born on the 23rd of august 1923, Attached to F company 517th parachute infantry regiment, Joe was the first 517th paratrooper killed in action on Southern France "D" day by a German machine gun at German head quarter Le Serre between La Motte, Le Mitan and Le Muy on the first hour. Joe O'BRIEN was Gary L DAVIS and Gene FRICE best friend. A young funny man full of energy and with a unforgatable sense of humor. Joe is burried at Golden Gate National cemetery, San Mateo,...
Veterans · 10 June 2021
Leo DEAN was born May 3, 1924, son of Richard J. Dean and Lillian M. Hynes of Albany and Watervliet. A 1941 graduate of Christian Brothers Academy, he registered for the draft the following year and went on to serve for almost three years with his beloved 517th Parachute Infantry Regimental Combat Team. He saw action in Italy, southern France and the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium. Leo DEAN was also part of an amphibious and airborne assault of 40,000 to 60,000 U.S. soldiers who stormed the...
In Memoriam · 05 June 2021
Private Elmer J. ANDERSON was born on July 1, 1923 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He enlisted his home town and was volunteer for parachute training. Aftern being graduated he was attached to 3frd battalion, 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division. After participate to the Italian campaign with his band of brothers, he took part to the operation Dragoon. Elmer was dropped on the early hour of the 15th of august 1944 between the villages of La Motte and Les Arcs. with his...
Veterans · 16 April 2021
Engagé à 19 ans, il se porte volontaire pour les parachutistes et rejoint le 517em régiment aéroporté Américain en 1943. Après la dure formation aéroportée en Géorgie , avec son unité, il part pour combattre en Europe, débarque à Naples en mars, où il fait son baptême du feu. Début aout 1944, il est regroupé aux environs de Rome pour la préparation du débarquement de Provence. La nuit du 14 vers minuit, il embarque dans les vagues d’avions Dakota et sera parachuté à 5...
In Memoriam · 06 March 2021
Jack Demsey FUNK, natif de Virginie fut le premier soldat tué pour la libération de Draguignan le 16 août 1944. né en 1923, il est mobilisé en juin 1943 et se porte volontaire pour les parachutistes. Après son entrainement, il est affecté au 551em bataillon aéroporté Américain, dans la compagnie B. Le 15 aout 1944, vers 18h30 il est parachuté avec son unité sur la zone comprise entre La Motte, Les Arcs et Trans en Provence. Avant le départ en Italie les officiers autorisent leurs...
Veterans · 01 November 2020
Alex SUTTON was born in Liverpool in November 1923 and was educated at Leamington Road School. In 1939 he joined the Air Cadet Force and later became member of the Home Guard. Aged 17 he enlisted into The Royal Welch Fusiliers in may 1941 and became a member of the airborne forces when 10th Battalion. Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Charles Hilary Vaughan Pritchard, the 10th Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers was converted to the 6th (Royal Welch) Parachute Battalion in August 1942. It was...
Veterans · 01 October 2020
Gene FRICE was born in Long Beach, California 9th of september 1925 to Arthur Frice and Ethel Craig. Spending most of his childhood in and out of boys homes, Gene was introduced to discipline and military life by way of the NOTC (Naval Officer Training Corps) in High School. This made the transition from civilian to soldier an easy one for Gene as he enlisted in the U.S. Army at the ripe age of 16 just after the Pearl Harbor attacks. In 1943, Gene volunteered for parachute duty and was sent to...
Veterans · 29 June 2020
Il arrive rarement dans une vie des rencontres qui en quelques minutes vous donne l'impression que vous avez été proches pour l'éternité. Gary était l'un de ces hommes, et il aura une place dans nos cœur pour le reste de nos vies. Gareth LaMont DAVIS est né à Cass Lake, régions montagneuses du Minessota le 7 juillet 1924 .. Il commence très tôt dans sa vie avec son père à passer du temps dans les forêts pour le camping mais surtout pour la chasse. Il était lycéen lorsqu'il a...
Histoire · 28 June 2020
The 887th Engineer Company was one of the great but virtually unknow outfit of World war tow. Constituted on the 25 of august 1942, in the Army of the United States from men of Company B, 871st Airborne Engineer Battalion. It was officially activated 1 September 1942 at Westover Field, Massachusetts . The company left Westover by train at 9am on the 7th of october 1942, to Langley field Virginia. On the 15th of October the Company left United States at Chesapeare bay by ship on USS Florence...
Veterans · 15 June 2020
Jack MERRICK was born May 7, 1921 in Strawn, Texas to Fred R. and Tennie C. Merrick. He graduated from Newsome Dougherty Memorial High School (GHS) in 1938, attended Gainesville Texas Junior College (NCTC), and the University of Texas at Austin. Mr. Merrick graduated from the Civilian Pilot Training Program and received his private pilot’s license in May 1940. He graduated on may 1943, from south Plain, Lubbock army school and served as a glider pilot during World War II with the US Army Air...