The following is a release from the American Legion in honor of Dan McBride, pictured above with Serina Pack at the 2013 4th of July Parade:
Dan McBride, a member The American Legion Allingham-Golding Post #18 with continuous membership since 1945, has been invited by the French Government to attend the 70th Anniversary celebrations of the Normandy “D-Day” Invasion.
Dan McBride was a member of the 101st Airborne Division, attached to Co “F”, 2nd Battalion, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment. They parachuted into the interior of France in the area of St. Martin-de-Varreville and Pouppeville 7-8 hours prior to the actual beachhead landings in order to disrupt communications, establish bridgeheads, destroy bridges and attack occupying German barracks and military installations in the Normandy area. Following their exemplary performance, both during and subsequent to the D-Day landings, the 502nd PIR became know as “The Widowmakers”.
Dan was attached to the 101st “Screaming Eagles” for the duration of WWII in Europe and among the many hostilities in which he saw action, most notable were Operation Market Garden, (the liberation of the Netherlands), and the Battle of the Bulge in Bastogne, Belgium.
Dan will leave on June 1st and fly to Paris, attend the various functions and ceremonies at Normandy, France and return to the U.S. on June 9th.
Submitted by: John P. Sterle
