Page 11 - Aerotech News 6-19-15_Classical

Veteran’s News

U.S. paratroopers, World

War II veterans pay homage

to D-Day 71st anniversary

CZ44HU0QBM7BVHIO memory. Army photographs by SSgt. Opal Vaughn
Army News At 91 years of age, veterans Sgt. 1st Class
U.S. Army veterans Cpl. George Shenkle, center right, of the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment,
&+()'83217)UDQFH²It has been nick- Richard Yates and Cpl. George Shenkle, of the 82nd Airborne Division, and Sgt. Isaac Phillips, center left, of the 4th Infantry Division, salute the
named the “longest day” and has had more movies WK3DUDFKXWH,QIDQWU\5HJLPHQWQG$LU- ÀDJGXULQJWKHSOD\LQJRIWKH86QDWLRQDODQWKHPZKLOHDWDFHUHPRQ\DWWKH5H[&RPEV0HPRULDO
played on the silver screen than most. borne Division, and Sgt. Isaac Phillips, of the 4th in the Normandy region, June 4, 2015.
Infantry Division, all count themselves blessed.
But no matter how many times the stories are They are among some of the last survivors of the A U.S. soldier, from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), renders honors during the playing
told, they never get old and will never be forgot- :RUOG:DU,,¶V¿JKWLQJJHQHUDWLRQ of the U.S. national anthem while at a ceremony at the Rex Combs Memorial in the Normandy
ten. region, June 4, 2015.
“I’m just honored to be here,” Yates said. “It
This year marked the 71st Anniversary of the was hard times back then but if I had to do it all
D-Day landings, and in remembrance of that day, over again I would.”
U.S. Army paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne
%ULJDGHVW$LUERUQH'LYLVLRQ$LU$VVDXOW Celebrating the anniversary of D-Day also al-
75th Ranger Regiment, veterans, local French lows new generations of paratroopers to continue
nationals, family and friends participated in a the legacy. It is also an opportunity to share in the
ceremony, at the Rex Combs memorial site in the tradition of friendship.
Normandy region, as part of the weeklong cel-
ebration here, June 4. “It’s important to jump where airborne jumping
began,” said U.S. Army paratrooper Spc. Drissa
“To see what my grandfather went through Camara, assigned to 173rd Airborne Brigade Sup-
DQGWKHWHUUDLQKHDQGPDQ\RWKHUVKDGWR¿JKW port Battalion. “It’s an honor for us to be part of
on. It’s all so humbling,” said U.S. Army Ranger these celebrations and to keep the friendship alive
Capt. Drew Schaub, assigned to 75th Regimental between the U.S. and France. I lived in France
Special Troops Battalion. “My grandfather, John before and I never knew the history of what hap-
Hamilton, was a sergeant in the 29th Infantry pened here.”
Division. It’s important to remember the hero-
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people that also put their lives on the line.” DQGDI¿OLDWHG''D\KLVWRULFDOXQLWVSDUWLFLSDWHG
in the 71st anniversary as part of Joint Task Force
Most of them were young boys when they en- D-Day 71. The task force, based in Sainte Mere
tered service but left as men. Their story of hero- Eglise, France, supported local events throughout
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throughout history but will soon fade from living actions by all the Allies on D-Day, which continue
to resonate 71 years later.
U.S. Army
Lt. Col. Kurt
Thompson,
center, deputy
commander of
2nd Brigade,
101st Airborne
Division (Air
Assault),
places a
wreath during
a ceremony
at the Rex
Combs
Memorial in
the Normandy
region, June
4, 2015

U.S. Army paratroopers, assigned to the 173rd Airborne Brigade, talk with U.S. Army veteran SFC
Richard Yates, of the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, during a ceremony
at the Rex Combs Memorial in the Normandy region, June 4, 2015.

Flowers are placed at the Rex Combs Memorial site in the Normandy region during a ceremony
in remembrance of the D-Day landings, June 4, 2015.

June 19, 2015 Aerotech News and Review 11

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