Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Indiana
Honored By
Harvey S. Sutherland, Airborne-509th Parachute Infantry Battalion
SUICIDE MISSION, PRISONER OF WAR. ON SEPTEMBER 19, 1943, PARACHUTED ONTO THE MOUNTAINS NEAR AVELLINO, ITALY IN SUPPORT OF THE SALERNO BEACHHEAD TO DISRUPT THE ADVANCING GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS, CAUSE HAVOC, HARASS, AND SLOW THEIR ATTACKS ONTO THE BEACHHEAD. THE U.S. 5TH ARMY WAS IN PERIL AND ON THE VERGE OF RETREATING FORM 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.