World War II Honoree

Herbert M. Coberly

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

West Virginia

Honored By

Harvey S. Sutherland, Airborne-509th Parachute Infantry Battalion

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