World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Wayne K. Harvey
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Los Angeles, California
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: CAPTAIN. SERVED AS COMMANDING OFFICER OF I-COMPANY, 3RD BATTALION, 508TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 82ND AIRBORNE ‘ALL-AMERICAN’ DIVISION. JUMPED INTO THE PICAUVILLE AREA, THE DESIGNATED DROP ZONE ON THE FRENCH COTENTIN PENINSULA IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ON D-DAY, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944, BATTLE OF NORMANDY IN WHICH HE WAS KILLED. THIS WAS THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, CODE NAME: OPERATION OVERLORD. HIS REGIMENT’S OBJECTIVE WAS TO DESTROY THE BRIDGES OVER THE DOUVE RIVER AND TO ESTABLISH A SECURE BRIDGEHEAD UP TO LE-HAMEAU-RENOUF, NORMANDY. HE WAS BURIED IN THE TEMPORARY BATTLEFIELD CEMETERY LOCATED AT BLOSVILLE, FRANCE AND AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN EUROPE, HIS REMAINS WERE TRANSFERRED, WITH INTERMENT IN THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE. DECORATION AND CITATION: THE CAPTAIN WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART FOR HIS ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.