World War II Honoree

Herbert F. Batcheller

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Hennepin County, Minnesota

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: LIEUTENANT COLONEL. HE WAS A PARATROOPER, WHO JUMPED INTO FRANCE IN THE EARLY, DARK MORNING HOURS ON D-DAY, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944 DURING THE BATTLE OF NORMANDY, THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, CODE NAME: OPERATION OVERLOAD. SERVED AS COMMANDER OF THE 1ST BATTALION, 508TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 82ND AIRBORNE ‘THE ALL-AMERICAN’ DIVISION. KILLED IN ACTION WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 1944 WHILE EXECUTING HIS REGIMENTS DAUNTING TASK TO SEIZE THE BRIDGE OVER THE DOUVE RIVER, AT PONT L' ABBE. HE IS BURIED IN THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART, BRITISH DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER AND THE FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE, WITH PALM. THE BRITISH SERVICE ORDER WAS AWARDED TO THE COLONEL FOR MERITORIOUS AND DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN WAR. THE FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WAS AWARDED FOR ACTS OF HEROISM INVOLVING COMBAT WITH THE ENEMY.