Widow Makers

The 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment of the famed 101st Airborne Division was one of the most decorated units of D-Day. The daybreak invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944 actually began the night before. Shrouded in darkness, 18 000 Allied paratroopers jumped into the fog and flak-filled skies, landing behind enemy lines before the full invasion. The 502nd was among them, and the men of the regiment quickly set about clearing the way for the Allied landing at Utah Beach, securing important German strongholds and ultimately liberating the strategically significant town of Carentan.

The only two Medal of Honors within the entire 101st AB was awarded to soldiers in the 502nd. Lt. Col. Robert G. Cole, CO of 3rd Battalion and Pfc. Joe E. Mann of H/Co, 3rd Btn, were both posthumously presented with the finest military award in the US military.

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Unit activated: 2009-02-26
Unit deactivated: 2011-11-10