World War II Honoree

John Agnew

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

AS A PRIVATE FIRST CLASS, HE SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE 506TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT OF THE 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION WHEN HE PARACHUTED INTO THE COUNTRYSIDE OUTSIDE OF CARETAN, NORMANDY ON THE NIGHT BEFORE THE D-DAY INVASION IN 1944. KNOWN AS THE 'DIRTY DOZEN', THE REGIMENT MEMBERS WERE DROPPED OFF COURSE YET MANAGED TO MEET UP AND BLOW UP THE BRIDGE WHICH CUT OFF GERMAN REINFORCEMENTS TO UTAH BEACH. HE AND THE OTHER PARATROOPERS SAW CONTINUOUS COMBAT FOR MORE THAN A WEEK, INCLUDING A MISTAKEN BOMBING BY THE U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES. IN 1944 HIS UNIT PARACHUTED INTO THE NETHERLANDS AND SURVIVED A DEVASTATING GERMAN COUNTERATTACK DURING THE FAILED OPERATION GARDEN MARKET. HE AND 20 MEMBERS OF THE 506TH JUMPED INTO FIELDS SOUTHWEST OF BASTOGNE TO SCOUT AREAS FOR CARGO PLANES TO LAND AND SAFELY DROP SUPPLIES. HE SET UP A DEVICE ON TOP OF A LARGE BRICK PILE WHICH SENT OUT A CLEAR RADAR SIGNAL TO GUIDE THE C-47 CARGO PLANES TO A SAFE DROP ZONE. BY DECEMBER 23, 1944, 241 CARGO PLANES DELIVERED MANY TONS OF URGENTLY NEEDED SUPPLIES TO THE 101ST AIRBORNE. HE WAS ALSO WOUNDED ON THAT DATE AND LATER RECEIVED A PURPLE HEART AND A BRONZE STAR WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER. HIS FINAL JUMP CAME WHEN THE 506TH TRIED TO RESCUE OTHER UNITS OF THE 101ST DIVISION WHICH HAD BEEN SURROUNDED BY GERMANS AT THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE.