World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
John H. Funk
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Atchison County, Missouri
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: PRIVATE. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY JANUARY 1, 1942 AT PORTLAND, OREGON. SERVED AS A PATHFINDER PARATROOPER WITH H-COMPANY, 3RD BATTALION, 502ND PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE ‘SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. PARACHUTED INTO THE AREA OF SAINT-MARTIN-DE-VARREVILLE, THE DESIGNATED DROP ZONE ON THE FRENCH COTENTIN PENINSULA IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS, 01:40 ON D-DAY, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944, BATTLE OF NORMANDY. THIS WAS THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, CODE NAME: OPERATION OVERLORD. HIS REGIMENT’S OBJECTIVE WAS TO DESTROY THE GERMAN HEAVY ARTILLERY BATTERY LOCATED IN THE AREA OF THE DROP ZONE. HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION SUNDAY, JUNE 11, 1944 DURING THE ASSAULT ON CARENTAN, FRANCE AND IS BURIED IN THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART.