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FAMILY VIGIL |
 Peggy Hasson
of Modesto recalls the D-Day experiences
shared by many others on the home front.
“There was an air of apprehension as I, my mother and father listened to news of the invasion of Normandy June 6 1944. The other member of our small close-knit family my brother — a paratrooper — was participating. We knew this and it was a good month before we received that much-awaited letter stating in his familiar cheerful words: ‘All is well and I’m in the pink’
“Eric Stott, my brother, a member of the 508th Parachute Infantry made two combat jumps. The first was at 2:15 a.m., June 6 1944, when he jumped into Normandy prior to the invasion by air and sea. The President issued a Distinguished Unit Citation to the regiment for its work the first two days in Normandy. The subsequent jump was in Holland at the
Nijmegen Bridge, the objective where the American commanding officer gave his famous reply ‘nuts’ in retort to the German request for surrender.
“After Germany’s surrender the 508th Parachute Infantry was sent to Frankfurt as honor guards at the headquarters of General Eisenhower/
“Eric survived the war but passed away 12 years ago in 1982.”
[The Modesto Bee, Modesto, Ca, 29 May 1994, Sun, Page 78]
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