World War II Honoree

Hal M. Creary

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Memphis, Tennessee

ENLISTED IN THE U.S. ARMY ON JANUARY 8, 1941 AND VOLUNTEERED FOR PARACHUTIST DUTY. AS SUCH, HE WAS ONE OF THE VERY FIRST PARACHUTISTS AS THE CONCEPT WAS BRAND NEW. HIS ABILITIES STOOD OUT AND HE WAS SELECTED TO ATTEND OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL AND UPON COMPLETION WAS COMMISSIONED AS A 2ND LIEUTENANT. WHEN THE THE 508TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT WAS ACTIVATED AT CAMP BLANDING, FLORIDA IN OCTOBER 1942, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS COMPANY. AFTER COMPLETION OF A RIGOROUS BASIC TRAINING, THE REGIMENT MOVED TO FT. BENNING, GEORGIA WHERE DURING FEBRUARY AND MARCH 1943 HE COMPLETED JUMP SCHOOL WITH THE REQUISITE FIVE JUMPS FROM AN AIRCRAFT IN FLIGHT. HE THEN MOVED WITH THE UNIT TO CAMP MACKALL, NORTH CAROLINA IN APRIL 1943 WHERE THE MEN WERE SUBJECTED TO VARIOUS FORMS OF ADVANCED TRAINING. IN DECEMBER OF THAT YEAR THE ENTIRE REGIMENT WAS TRANSFERRED TO CAMP SHANKS, NEW YORK FOR SHIPMENT TO EUROPE. ON DECEMBER 27, 1943 THE UNIT BOARDED THE USAT JAMES PARKER FOR TRANSIT ACROSS THE ATLANTIC. AFTER 12 DAYS THE SHIP DOCKED IN BELFAST, IRELAND WHERE THE MEN DISEMBARKED FOR WHAT WOULD BE A THREE-MONTH STINT OF FIELD TRAINING. IN MARCH 1944 THEY WERE RELOCATED TO NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND FOR THE FINAL PHASE OF THEIR TRAINING. BY THIS TIME HE HAD BEEN PROMOTED TO CAPTAIN AND HAD BEEN ASSIGNED AS THE COMMANDER OF COMPANY H. DURING THE EVENING HOURS OF JUNE 5, 1944 HE BOARDED AN AIRCRAFT AND TOOK OFF FOR THE INVASION OF FRANCE. ON THE MORNING OF JUNE 6, 1944, D-DAY, HE JUMPED INTO THE NIGHT SKY OVER NORMANDY. HE WAS TAKEN PRISONER AND WAS IN A TRUCK CONVOY GOING TO A PRISON CAMP WHEN ALLIED AIRCRAFT MISTAKENLY STRAFED THE COLUMN. HE WAS KILLED ALONG WITH MOST OF THE OCCUPANTS OF THE TRUCKS.