World War II Honoree

Jerry A. Wentzel

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Park County, Montana

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: TECHNICIAN 5TH CLASS. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE U.S. ARMY SEPTEMBER 16, 1942 AT TACOMA, WASHINGTON. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS WITH THE U.S. ARMY REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS, 2ND BATTALION, 506TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE ‘SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. HE WAS A PARATROOPER WHO WAS PREPARING TO JUMP INTO FRANCE IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ON D-DAY, JUNE 6, 1944, THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE. HE WAS KILLED ALONG WITH 16 OTHER PARATROOPERS OF THE 506TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS STAFF INCLUDING THE COMMANDER OF ECHO COMPANY 506TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT WHEN THEIR ‘DOUGLAS’ C-47 TROOP TRANSPORT, FLIGHT #66 WAS HIT BY ENEMY ARTILLERY FLAK AS IT NEARED THE DESIGNATED DROP ZONE AND CRASHED NEAR STE. MERE, EGLISE IN THE VICINITY OF BEUZEVILLE AU PLAIN, FRANCE. A MONUMENT HAS BEEN ERECTED AND SHAPED LIKE THE TAIL RUDDER OF A DAKOTA C-47 AND A PLAQUE WITH THE NAMES OF THE PARATROOPERS AND CREWMEMBERS NEAR STE. MERE, EGLISE. HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO MISSOURI FOR MASS BURIAL, WITH INTERMENT AND FULL MILITARY HONORS MARCH 27, 1951 AT THE JEFFERSON BARRACKS NATIONAL CEMETERY, SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI.