World War II Honoree

Glen Weirich

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

LaGrange County, Indiana

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE. INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY JANUARY 28, 1943 AT TOLEDO, OHIO. HE WAS A PARATROOPER, WHO SERVED WITH I-COMPANY, 3RD BATTALION, 506TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE ‘SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. KILLED IN ACTION IN THE DARK, EARLY MORNING HOURS, 01:40 ON 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 4 ARMY AIR CORPS CREWMEMBERS WHEN HIS C-47 ‘SKYTRAIN’ TROOP CARRIER AIRCRAFT WAS SHOT DOWN BY GERMAN MACHINE GUN FIRE AND ARTILLERY FLAK AS IT APPROACHED DROP ZONE-D LOCATED AT ANGOVILLE-AU-PLAIN. IT CRASHED NEAR MAGNEVILLE, NORTH OF ORGLANDES ON THE FRENCH COTENTIN PENINSULA. HE WAS REPORTED MISSING IN ACTION OR BURIED AT SEA THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 1945 AND IS MEMORIALIZED AT THE CAMBRIDGE AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: AWARDED BRONZE STAR AND THE PURPLE HEART. THE BRONZE STAR WAS AWARDED TO THE SOLDIER FOR BRAVERY, ACT OF MERIT AND MERITORIOUS SERVICE IN COMBAT.