Sgt. Funk was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his deeds. (Leonard is now fighting a greater battle with cancer.)

We were relieved and back in Sissonne on the 20th of February. On the 3rd of April the 508 was alerted to move to an airfield near Chartres, France, for a possible jump to liberate our POW camps. It was feared that with the German army breaking down, that German civilians might endanger the POWs. Fortunately, the jumps did not materialize and we ended the war in Chartres.

After the German surrender, the 508 returned to Sissonne long enough to prepare for movement to Germany where we were slated for army of occupation duty as guards for General Eisenhower's headquarters in Frankfurt. Bedecked in white parachute silk scarves and white gloves, the men of the 508 soon showed that they could be as good a garrison soldier as they were fighting men.

Among other duties, the regiment stood honor guard for visiting dignitaries. On the occasion of the big three meeting in Berlin, the Third Bn. stood honor guard for the president of the united states, the secretary of state, and the secretaries of war and navy, all of whom commented on the fine appearance of the troops.

We have never claimed that we won the war. However, the fact that 9,654 officers and men were on the rolls of the regiment during the first three years of its life pays tribute to the fact that when the regiment did go into battle, the fighting was rough. We are proud of the fact that we were asked to do more with less equipment, on less food, and practically without transportation than any other outfit.

ACT III - POST WAR

We must now pay tribute to two people, without whom we would not have an Act Three, nor even be here today. OB Hill and Margaret gave of their time, money, spirit, and effort to get us together. OB and Margaret, we are forever in your debt..

Following the war we all went our separate ways until OB took it on himself to get us all together. The following is almost verbatim from a letter I received from OB. Our present association really started on June 6, 1974; Bill Goudy and OB were visiting the graves of all men from their company in the Normandy cemetery. It was the first visit for either of them and quite an experience. They had secured a list from the curator which gave the location of each grave. Their company commander, Capt. Ruddy, was buried there and it was at the foot of his grave that OB decided to try and organize a reunion for all the 508 men he could find. He was working for Hughes and had access to a typing pool as well as a secretary and a watts line. The start was with 5 addresses. He advertised in all of the veterans magazines. Tom Gintjee was located and did all the art work for the present stationary, membership cards, and applications. Funds for all this activity came from OB's father's account. He had passed away leaving an inheritance, and being proud of his paratrooper son, OB felt that his dad would be happy to know that his funds would be used to get the reunion started. OB and Margaret decided that Chicago would be a good central location and they made four trips there. The Marriott proved