”The Greatest of the Greatest Generation"

The Normandy campaign ended August 25, 1944 the costs were high:

· Allied Forces - 39,978 killed and 209, 000 wounded

· German forces - 24,000 killed and 450,000 wounded

In September 1944, the 508^th PIR parachuted into Holland, and in Dec-ember we were committed in the Battle of the Bulge.

In May 1945, the war in Europe ended. After 16 months of occupation duty as security forces and honor guards for General Eisenhower’s head-quarters, the 508^th PIR was returned to the United States and deactivated.

A few years ago, the First Battalion 508^th Parachute Infantry was activated as the 1-508^th Infantry (Airborne Combat Team) and stationed in Italy.

As I had been a member of the original 508^th Parachute Infantry Regiment's ‘”First Battalion” and had parachuted into Normandy, I was invited to be a guest of the 1-508when it visited Normandy, and to serve as a guide during its tour of the battlefields.

I was delighted. This would be my first opportunity to return to Normandy since I left there 58 years ago.

On April 13, 2002, the 1-508 parachuted into the drop zone we missed on June 6, 1944. We were fortunate, the Germans had flooded the area with over four feet of water, and many of the heavily loaded parachutists that landed in the area had drowned.

The 508^th PIR D-Day Drop Zone - as it looked on April 13, 2002.

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Page 59 of 219 Pages

A few years ago, the First Battalion 508th Parachute Infantry was activated as the 1-508th Infantry (Airborne Combat Team) and stationed in Italy.

As I had been a member of the original 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment's ‘”First Battalion” and had parachuted into Normandy, I was invited to be a guest of the 1-508 when it visited Normandy, and to serve as a guide during its tour of the battlefields.

I was delighted. This would be my first opportunity to return to Normandy since I left there 58 years ago.

A few years ago, the First Battalion 508^th Parachute Infantry was activated as the 1-508^th Infantry (Airborne Combat Team) and stationed in Italy.

As I had been a member of the original 508^th Parachute Infantry Regiment's ‘”First Battalion” and had parachuted into Normandy, I was invited to be a guest of the 1-508when it visited Normandy, and to serve as a guide during its tour of the battlefields.