John McCann of Belfast, Ireland began research for a book about U.S. army units that had once been stationed in Northern Ireland as they prepared for their role in what would become the Normandy invasion.
One consequence of his research over a span of four years was the realization that no monument had been erected to memorialize the presence of the 508th in the
Cromore Estate, Portstewart.
John took it upon himself to correct that oversight and, with the help of 508th PIR Association funds, the memorial was
Mr. McCann's book Passing Through: The 82nd Airborne Division in Ireland 1943/44: An American Perspective has now been punished. Anyone interested in obtaining a signed copy of Mr. McCann's book can do so by e-mail to his literary agent, Gayle Wurst
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Cromore House
on the Cromore Estate was the scene of recent dedication ceremonies |
John McCann
author and military researcher greeted guests and spoke of his efforts to erect a monument to the 508th |
Mrs. Barbara Gavin -Fauntleroy (daughter of Gen. James Gavin), was present to recognize the honors according to her father's All-American Airborne Division |
John McCann
stands next to the blue-draped monument prior to its unveiling.
Once unveiled, the monument was seen to be an elegant obelisk of locally quarried granite with a simple plaque recognizing the 508th's presence at
Cromore. |
