Met a D-Day 82nd Paratrooper today at the mall.

**Eagle9294** · 06-07-2012, 02:37 PM

He had his WW2 hat with the 504 PIR insignia. He was the real deal. I went up and thanked him for his service. Told him I love him and his brothers. It meant so much to him. It almost brought me to tears. Love these men while they are still with us. Not many of them are and they care that you care.

**Ops NCO** · 06-07-2012, 02:44 PM

That's always cool. Yesterday, me and one of my employees walked over to the nursing home next door and went around thanking all the veterans. We had some "Army" wrist bracelets that we gave each of them, and thanked them for their service. I think it made their day, and certainly did mine. None were paratroopers, but all were heroes.

**brothers all** · 06-07-2012, 06:48 PM

I love that stuff! Great post. Wouldn't it be wonderful to roundup all of the remaning PARATROOPERS from WWII and have 'em all together for a reunion. Man the stories and tales we'd have.

**Old All American** · 06-07-2012, 08:14 PM

I always feel like a kid seeing Santa Claus when I run into a WWII paratrooper. I may have said this here before, if so, sorry; but remember when they used to march the World War II 82nd paratroopers in front of us at the Division Review? Man, I used to feel so humbled. Knowing what those guys did and what they went through I never felt fit to shine their boots, much less wear the same wings and patch as they did. Just made me want to suck it up and try harder to carry the torch they passed down.

If that guy was 504 and jumped into Normandy that is one special dude among a generation of special dudes. Remember, the 504th didn't jump as a regiment into Normandy they'd just come up from Italy and were too chewed up to go. But several members of the regiment volunteered to jump in as Pathfinders with the 07 and 08. That is one hardcore dude in a generation of hardcore paratroopers.