World War II Honoree

James Maurice 'Jumpin’ Jim' Gavin

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army at 17 and became the youngest general to make 4 combat jumps during WWII. He served in the U.S. Coast Artillery at Fort Sherman, Panama. He became a West Point candidate and graduated as a 2nd Lieutenant and was stationed at Camp Henry J. Jones in Arizona with the 25th Infantry Regiment. As he moved up the ranks he was later given command over the airborne Invasion of Sicily in 1943. On July 9, 1943 he was the first to jump and land in Sicily with the 550th Airborne Regiment. He later jumped with the 82nd Airborne in to Normandy. His men captured the town of Saint Mere Eglise and two bridges along the Mederet River. The next large scale operation he participated in was Operation Market Garden in 1944. He distinguished himself particularly during the battle on the Waal River. He received 20 medals, including the Distinguished Service Order from British Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery in Monchengladbach on March 21, 1945, and two from the French government, one from the Belgians and one from the government of the Netherlands. He formed the all black 555th Parachute Infantry Division.