World War II Honoree

Jay E. Cheel

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Clark County, Nevada

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY DECEMBER 31, 1942 AT SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH. HE WAS A PARATROOPER, WHO SERVED WITH CHARLIE COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 506TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE 'SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. KILLED IN ACTION ON D-DAY, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944 IN THE DARK, EARLY MORNING HOURS DURING THE BATTLE OF NORMANDY, THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, CODE NAME: OPERATION OVERLORD. HE DIED ALONG WITH 12 OTHER PARATROOPERS AND ALL 4 AIR CORPS PERSONNEL WHEN HIS C-47 ‘SKYTRAIN’ TROOP CARRIER CRASHED NORTHEAST OF PICAUVILLE ON THE FRENCH COTENTIN PENINSULA. DURING THE PILOT’S ATTEMPT TO ENTER THE DROP ZONE-C AREA AT HIESVILLE, FRANCE HIS AIRCRAFT WAS SHOT DOWN BY VERY HEAVY AND ACCURATE FLAK FROM GERMAN ANTI-AIRCRAFT BATTERIES. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN EUROPE, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO NEVADA FOR BURIAL, WITH INTERMENT IN A PRIVATE CEMETERY.