Harland “Bud” Curtis, KD6UIF, Is Honored
By Carina Lister, KF6ZYY

Dr Walter Goforth ( left )
Bud Curtis KD6UIF  ( Right )

http://www.517prct.org/normandy_6_6_2004.htm

Bud Curtis, KD6UIF, recently attended the 60^th Anniversary of the World War II Invasion of Normandy as a guest of the French government.  He was inducted into the National Order of the Legion of Honor for his 1944 participation in the liberation of France from the Nazi Germans. 

Bud’s 517^th PRCT

Bud is a member of the 517th Parachute Regiment Combat Team (PRCT), Headquarters (HQ), 1st Battalion (Bn).  The 517th PRCT was established in March 1943 as one of the U.S. Army's first elite combat units.  The 517th saw most of its combat in Italy, southern France, and the Battle of the Bulge.  In its 33 months of activity, the outfit of 2,500 men endured some of the heaviest fighting of the European campaigns - from Italy through the invasion of Southern France, then the bitter winter in the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge, and the final thrust into Germany.  The 517th was formally deactivated on 25 Feb 1946.

This year the French government selected 100 American veterans for the Legion of Honor.  These soldiers served during the liberation of France from June 6, 1944, to May 8, 1945, and they all participated in one of the four major campaigns – Normandy, northern France, southern France and the Ardennes.

The Legion of Honor

The National Order of the Legion of Honor was established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 and recognizes eminent service to the Republic of France.  President Jacques Chirac personally honored these 100 American veterans with the Legion of Honor, the most prestigious award that can be granted by that country.  Coming 60 years after the Invasion of Normandy, this particular award speaks to the continued honor and respect that the French have for the American forces that supported France during the dark years of World War II.

517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team
517th Parachute Infantry Regiment
 

D-Day.  June 6, 1944.

D-Day, the first day of the Allied invasion of German-occupied Europe, on June 6, 1944, brought together the land, air and sea forces of the Allied armies in the largest invasion force in history.  The operation, given the codename Overlord, delivered five naval assault divisions to the beaches of Normandy.  The beaches were given the codenames Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword. The invasion force included 7,000 ships and landing craft manned by over 195,000 naval personnel from eight allied countries.  Almost 133,000 troops from England, Canada and the United States landed on D-Day.  Casualties from the three countries during the landing numbered 10,300.  By June 30th, over 850,000 men, 148,000 vehicles, and 570,000 tons of supplies had landed on the Normandy shores.  Fighting by the brave soldiers, sailors and airmen of the allied forces on the western front and the Russian forces on the eastern front led to the total defeat of German Nazi forces.  On May 7, 1945, German General Alfred Jodl signed an unconditional surrender at Reims, France. 

RESOURCES

A short history of the 517^th PRCT was published in the Winter Quarter 1998 issue of The Airborne Quarterly.  More information can be found at www.517prct.org.  A short history of the D-Day Invasion can be found at http://www.Eisenhower.archives.gov.

French defense attaché Maj. Gen. Pascal Vinchon, addressed the veterans, "You were prepared to sacrifice everything, including your love for freedom.  Many of your comrades never saw France liberated.  For sure, they're very present in our minds today and forever.  We – the French people – owe you our liberty.  And we will never forget it."