World War II Honoree

Edwin E. Funk

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Grayson County, Virginia

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY FEBRUARY 7, 1942 AT RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. SERVED AS A PARATROOPER WITH C-COMPANY, 1ST 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 ON THE DAY OF THE ASSAULT AND WAS INTERRED IN A BATTLE FIELD CEMETERY. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN EUROPE, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO HIS FAMILY, FOR BURIAL IN THE SUMMERFIELD CEMETERY, FRIES, VIRGINIA.