World War II Honoree

John Logan Betts

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Florida

Honored By

Harvey S. Sutherland

SUICIDE MISSION, PRISONER OF WAR, SERVED WITH THE ELITE 509TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY BATTALION, THE MOST DECORATED PARATROOP UNIT OF WWII, IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. ON 19 SEPTEMBER 1943, PARACHUTED ONTO THE ITALIAN MOUNTAINS NEAR AVELLINO, ITALY IN SUPPORT OF THE SALERNO BEACHHEAD,TO DISRUPT THE ADVANCING GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS, TO CAUSE HAVOC, HARASSMENT AND SLOW THEIR ATTACKS ONTO THE BEACHHEAD. THE 5TH U. S. ARMY WAS IN PERIL AND ON THE VERGE OF RETREATING FROM THE ITALIAN PENINSULA. THE 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION PARACHUTED ONTO THE BEACHHEAD.