World War II Honoree

Edwin Finder

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Cass County, Nebraska

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY MARCH 1, 1939 AND BECAME A PARATROOPER, WHO SERVED WITH I-COMPANY, 3RD BATTALION, 506TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE ‘SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. KILLED IN ACTION IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS, AT 01:40 ON D-DAY, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944 IN THE BATTLE OF NORMANDY. THIS WAS THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, CODE NAME: OPERATION OVERLORD. HE DIED ALONG WITH 14 OTHER PARATROOPERS AND 4 ARMY AIR CORPS CREWMEMBERS WHEN THE C-47 TROOP TRANSPORT WAS HIT AND SEVERELY DAMAGED AFTER ENCOUNTERING VERY HEAVY, ENEMY MACHINE-GUN FIRE AND ANTI-AIRCRAFT FLAK AS IT APPROACHED DROP ZONE-D LOCATED NEAR ANGOVILLE-AU-PLAIN ON THE FRENCH COTENTIN PENINSULA. THE AIRCRAFT, OUT OF CONTROL WENT DOWN IN THE ENGLISH CHANNEL, OFF THE COAST OF OMAHA BEACH. THERE WERE 19 PARATROOPERS ON BOARD AND 4 WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE AIRCRAFT BEFORE IT IMPACTED THE WATER. REPORTED MISSING IN ACTION AND LOST AT SEA JUNE 6, 1944 AND IS MEMORIALIZED AT THE CAMBRIDGE AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: BRONZE STAR AND THE PURPLE HEART. THE BRONZE STAR WAS AWARDED TO THE SOLDIER FOR BRAVERY, ACT OF MERIT AND MERITORIOUS SERVICE IN COMBAT.