Ralph parachuted into Normandy on June 6th 1944 as part of the invasion force. He went on to help liberate Holland, fought at The Battle of the Bulge and participated in the capture of Berchtesgaden - Hitler's Alpine retreat. Ralph married his GI bride June Earl in 1945 and they are still together today.

Hank was badly wounded at the bridges in Normandy, but against orders of the medical staff, returned to the 3/506th and parachuted into Holland to help liberate Eindhoven. Hank went on to fight at Bastogne in the Battle of the Bulge and on into Germany and the capture of Berchtesgaden, Hitler's Alpine retreat.

Bill, like many others, volunteered for parachute training and became part of Col Sink's infamous Camp Toccoa intake. As a member of 3/506th PIR he parachuted into Normandy and also into Holland where he was severely wounded, fighting for the liberation of Eindhoven. Bill spent the rest of the war in hospital.

 

John served as a medic during the war and was captured and interned on D- Day, June 1944. On 4th August 1944 he was liberated by Gen G. Patton's 3rd Army. As a member of 3/506th PIR John parachuted into Holland and fought at Bastogne, but his luck ran out when, on 9th January 1945, he became badly wounded near the town of Foy.

Ben served as the mail clerk for 3/506th PIR. On 10th June 1944, in a Normandy farm house, Ben was accidentally shot, at close range, with a German Luger pistol by 2Lt. John Williams from 'H' Company. Helped by his friend, Operations Sergeant Ed Shames, Ben recovered and returned to active duty and spent the rest of the war fighting throughout Europe with 3/506th PIR.

Related to Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, Bobbie jumped into Normandy, France and Holland. He was wounded at Bastogne on 9th January 1945. After 19 weeks in hospital, Bobbie became a driver for the USO shows. 62 years later he finally received his campaign medals.

Operations Sergeant Ed Shames became the first enlisted man from the 3/506th PIR to receive a battlefield commission in Normandy. As an Officer, 2Lt. Ed Shames fought at Eindhoven, Bastogne and Berchtesgaden with the legendary 'E' Company, made famous by the book 'The Band of Brothers'.

Harold joined the 3/506th PIR whilst they were stationed in England. As a 60mm mortarman, he parachuted in to Normandy, France and Holland and then on Germany and Berchtesgaden. He grew up in Modesto, CA, with friend Bobbie Rommel and the two men were wounded fighting in the same battle, on the same day and in the same Battalion.