World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Edson Duncan Raff
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
New York, New York
Honored By
Friends & Family
LED THE FIRST COMBAT JUMP BY U.S. PARATROOPERS. ONE OF THE FIRST COMMANDERS OF THE 2ND BATTALION, 509TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT. SERVED IN NORTH AFRICA AND TUNISIA. HE TRAINED PARATROOPERS FOR THE INVASION OF NORMANDY, THEN COMMANDED AN ARMORED TASK FORCE THAT LANDED AT UTAH BEACH ON D-DAY. THE NEXT WINTER HE COMMANDED THE 507TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. ON MARCH 24, 1945 HE LED HIS REGIMENT IN 'OPERATION VARSITY' THE LAST LARGE SCALE U.S. AIRBORNE DROP OF THE THE WAR IN EUROPE. TOOK PART IN THE CAPTURE OF ESSEN AND DUISBURG. RECEIVED THE LEGION OF MERIT AND SILVER AND BRONZE STARS.