World War II Honoree

Zale Wells

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Deer Lodge County, Montana

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE. INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY MAY 10, 1942 AT BUTTE, MONTANA. HE WAS A PARATROOPER, WHO SERVED WITH DELTA COMPANY, 2ND BATTALION, 501ST PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE 'SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. KILLED IN ACTION IN THE EARLY, DARK MORNING HOURS OF D-DAY, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944 DURING THE BATTLE OF NORMANDY, THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, CODE NAME: OPERATION OVERLORD. HE DIED ALONG WITH 17 OTHER PARATROOPERS AND ALL 4 AIR CORPS PERSONNEL WHEN HIS C-47 ‘SKYTRAIN’ TROOP CARRIER WAS SHOT DOWN BY GERMAN ANTIAIRCRAFT BATTERIES AND CRASHED NEAR VARENGUEBEC WEST OF PICAUVILLE ON THE FRENCH COTENTIN PENINSULA. THE DISASTER OCCURRED AS THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO ENTER THE DESIGNATED DROP ZONE-D AREA, LOCATED AT ANGOVILLE-AU-PLAIN, FRANCE. HE IS BURIED IN THE AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART.