World War II Honoree

Marvin F. Muir

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Elkart County, Indiana

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: 1ST LIEUTENANT. SERVED AS A PILOT OF A ‘DOUGLAS’ C-47 TROOP TRANSPORT ASSIGNED TO THE U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES, 93RD SQUADRON, 439TH TROOP CARRIER GROUP, 9TH AIR FORCE. WHEN HIS AIRCRAFT ENTERED THE DESIGNATED DROP ZONE OVER FRANCE IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ON D-DAY, JUNE 6, 1944, THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, OPERATION OVERLORD, IT WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED BY ENEMY ARTILLERY FLAK AND GROUND FIRE. HE WAS ABLE TO HOLD THE BURNING AIRCRAFT LEVEL AND STEADY WHILE HIS PARATROOPERS OF THE 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION MADE THEIR JUMP. HE DIED ALONG WITH HIS CREW AFTER LOSING CONTROL OF HIS C-47, WHICH CRASHED IN THE VICINITY OF STE MERE EGLISE, NORMANDY AND IS BURIED AT THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY, COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS, AWARDED FOR EXTREME GALLANTRY AND RISK OF LIFE IN ACTUAL COMBAT WITH AN ARMED ENEMY FORCE AND THE PURPLE HEART. HIS UNIT WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM AND THE FRENCH FOURRAGERE.