World War II Honoree

Jack Warden

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Newark, New Jersey

Honored By

Joe Arsena

IN 1941, HE JOINED THE UNITED STATES MERCHANT MARINE BUT SWITCHED TO THE ARMY IN 1942 WHERE HE SERVED AS A PARATROOPER IN THE ELITE 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION DURING WORLD WAR II. IN 1944, ON THE EVE OF THE D-DAY INVASION HE SHATTERED HIS LEG BY LANDING ON A FENCE DURING A NIGHT-TIME PRACTICE JUMP IN ENGLAND. AFTER ALMOST A YEAR IN THE HOSPITAL, HE RECOVERED ENOUGH TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE IN 1944. HE LEFT THE MILITARY WITH THE RANK OF SERGEANT.