Posted on 06/03/2004 5:57:25 AM PDT by veronica
FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. - The stories of 101st Airborne Division paratroopers descending on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day are proudly told to the unit's soldiers even today.
So it is with pride that many current 101st soldiers are preparing to re-enact the famed division's historic first jump Saturday in France as part of the 60th anniversary of the World War II battle. They said they want to make 101st veterans proud.
"This is the biggest thing," 1st Sgt. Tom Coleman, 37, of Pittsburgh, said at Fort Campbell before leaving for France earlier this week. "I've been in the Army 19 years, on jump status for 11 years, that's one of those things you want to do is jump Normandy."
The opportunity is especially gratifying for the 120 soldiers participating because most spent time in Iraq as part of the Fort Campbell-based division's grueling one-year deployment that ended in February. Sixty-one soldiers from Fort Campbell, 50 miles north of Nashville, Tenn., died in the war.
"I just think it will be an awesome experience," said Staff Sgt. Brad Eudy, 33, of Concord, N.H. "Just the history behind it is overwhelming. We're real fortunate to be able to make this trip."
The soldiers selected are being rewarded for positive actions either in Iraq or back home, said Maj. Glenn McRill, who is overseeing the 101st attendees.
Sgt. Donald Thornton, 26, of Nicholasville, Ky., said "I did a lot of begging" to get to go. Thornton said you can't even compare this trip with his four months in northern Iraq instructing at an air assault school the division built to teach soldiers skills like rappelling from helicopters.
"Like I said, this one I begged to go," Thornton said, joking.
On D-Day - the 101st's first mission - 101st troops cleared the way for the 1st and 4th Infantry Division at Omaha and Utah beaches. The division claims its pathfinders were the first Americans to set foot in occupied France.
Current 101st soldiers learn about the division's history in World War II and often hear about the words its first commander, Maj. Gen. William C. Lee told his men. Lee said in 1942 that "the 101st ... has no history, but it has a rendezvous with destiny."
After World War II, the division fought on Hamburger Hill in Vietnam, fired the first shots of the 1991 Persian Gulf War, battled terrorists in the mountains of Afghanistan in Operation Anaconda and participated in major combat in Iraq.
The 101st is now an air assault unit that uses helicopters to move troops and attack the enemy, and not all of its soldiers are paratroopers. However, soldiers such as instructors at Fort Campbell's air assault school and within a couple specialized detachments remain "jump qualified" or eligible to parachute from planes.
Of the 120 attending, 56 soldiers are participating in non-jumping capacities to represent 101st units there on D-Day that are no longer paratrooper units.
The paratroopers will jump Friday along with soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division and the XVIII Airborne Corps, both based at Fort Bragg, N.C. On Sunday, the 60th anniversary of the invasion, they will participate in memorial services.
"All of our direction on this said we're there for the veterans," McRill said. "We are really looking to honor our veterans during their last visit to Normandy."
After the jump they should march into Paris and accept Chirac's surrender.
BUMP!
Now that would be cool!! /jk ;-)
I was enroute to the 101st when they participated in the 50th anniversary 10 years ago; so heard all the stories from our participants when they returned. Say what you will about the French (and I've said a lot of it myself!), but the local population in the Normandy area treated our veterans and current 101st troopers like kings during this event.
I watched a special on the Pathfinders last night on the History Channel. They had over a 50% loss in their group, the highest for the war.
Wasn't the 101st also the basis for "The Longest Day"
My dad was in the 101 and would often talk about D-Day. According to family legend my grandmother was at the movies when the newsreals about the jump were shown. She screamed and fainted because she saw her son in the newreal. She had thought from his letters that he was in Maine guarding the coastline.
How neat (in a historical sort of way)
I bet a lot of moms had no idea what their sons were actually doing in the war.
Yes it was, the reason she thought he was in Maine was to keep the information on D-Day secret. While I heard many stories about the war I probably got the sanatized version to spare me much of the realities he went through. But he was very proud of his service. He painted the Screaming Eagle on his garage door. This was on there for many years. When he died, my mom put in a new garage door. This upset the neighbors since it was a local landmark, and they told visiters they lived so many door up or down from the home with the eagle on the garage.
General James Gavin-82nd Airborne, was from my home town in Pennsylvania. He was beloved by his men. In combat he jumped with them.
I think the Longest Day was an overview of DDay from the perspective of all the units.
Band of Brothers by Ambrose was solely written from the perspective of Easy Company in the 101st Abn.
""...The American soldiers will receive a warm welcome by German Machine Gun Fire, to remember the good old days."
What exactly is the point of your comment?
The planned landing of US paratroopers in the Normany without German MG fire not realistic. It would be a truly commemorative event if the other major party played a role in this event. Of course, my proposal was a joke.
What a great line !
Joking about such matters does not reflect well on you.
My uncle jumped in with the 82nd Abn, the division I later served in. His last name was Schaidt, I believe Schadt in the old country. He was fortunate enough to survive the entire war and spoke solemnly and reverently about his friends that were killed and also the Germans that he killed.
Please consider the realities of this unfortunate war.
I was not making fun out of those who fought in that war. This war was horrible, and I´m glad for everyone who survived it! My apology if I´ve hurt your feelings.
George Tenant Head of the CIA just resigned. Will leave in July Fox
You have not hurt my feelings, I just didn't appreciate joke pertaining to those who served.
After seeing Band of Brothers, my eyes tear when I read or hear about the 101. The interviews at the end of the shows are the most gripping interviews I have ever heard.
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