World War II Honoree

Bryant L. Hinson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Middleton, Mississippi

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY AUGUST 29, 1942 AT CAMP SHELBY, MISSISSIPPI 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. HE WAS BURIED IN THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN EUROPE, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO MISSISSIPPI, WITH INTERMENT IN THE SHADY GROVE CHURCH OF GOD CEMETERY, MIDDLETON, MISSISSIPPI. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART.