World War II Honoree

George M. Eberle

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

West Point, New York

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: 1ST LIEUTENANT. HE GRADUATED FROM WEST POINT, THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY JANUARY 19, 1943. AFTER COMPLETING PARATROOPER TRAINING, HE SERVED AS 3RD PLATOON LEADER, D-COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 502ND PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE ‘SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. IN THE BATTLE OF NORMANDY, HE PARACHUTED INTO THE ST MARTIN DE VARREVILLE AREA ON THE FRENCH COTENTIN PENINSULA IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS, 01:40 ON D-DAY, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944. THIS WAS THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, CODE NAME: OPERATION OVERLORD, IN WHICH HE WAS KILLED BY ENEMY GROUND FIRE IN THE VICINITY OF AUDONOUVILLE-LA-HUBERT LOCATED IN LOWER NORMANDY. HE IS BURIED IN THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE. DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS: RECIPIENT OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS AND THE PURPLE HEART POSTHUMOUSLY. THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS WAS AWARDED TO THE LIEUTENANT FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN CONNECTION WITH MILITARY OPERATIONS IN ACTION AGAINST ENEMY FORCES ON 6 JUNE 1944, IN FRANCE. THE PURPLE HEART FOR HIS SUPREME SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.