World War II Honoree

Jack Pogue

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

New Mexico

Honored By

Harvey S. Sutherland

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