World War II Honoree

John S. Pegg

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Vigo County, Indiana

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE. INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY APRIL 1, 1943 AT FORT BENJAMIN, HARRISON, INDIANA. HE WAS A PARATROOPER, WHO SERVED WITH H-COMPANY, 3RD BATTALION, 501ST PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE ‘SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION IN THE DARK, EARLY MORNING HOURS, 01:20 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 5 ARMY AIR CORPS CREWMEMBERS WHEN HIS C-47 ‘SKYTRAIN’ TROOP CARRIER AIRCRAFT WAS SHOT DOWN BY GERMAN MACHINE GUN FIRE BEFORE IT REACHED THE DESIGNATED DROP ZONE-C, LOCATED AT HIESVILLE. THERE WERE 17 OTHER PARATROOPERS ON BOARD THAT WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE C-47 BEFORE IT WENT DOWN, CRASHING NEAR CARENTAN, EAST OF DEAD MANS CORNER ON THE FRENCH COTENTIN PENINSULA. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN EUROPE, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO INDIANA FOR BURIAL, WITH INTERMENT IN A PRIVATE CEMETERY.