World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Richard L. Davidson
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Buckingham County, Virginia
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: CAPTAIN. SERVED AS A U.S. ARMY, COMMANDER OF ABLE COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 502ND PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. HE WAS A PARATROOPER WHO JUMPED INTO FRANCE IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ON D-DAY, JUNE 6, 1944, OPERATION OVERLORD, THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE. KILLED IN ACTION JUNE 9, 1944 IN THE VICINITY OF FOUCARVILLE, FRANCE AND IS BURIED AT THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY, COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: PURPLE HEART AND HIS UNIT WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 1 OAK LEAF CLUSTER, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, BELGIAN CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, A NETHERLANDS ORANGE LANYARD AND A BELGIAN FOURRAGERE FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES.