One Of The Few World War II Paratroopers To Make 4 Combat Jumps With The 82nd Airborne Has Died

[douglas9]

Fewer than 3,000 paratroopers made four combat jumps with the 82nd Airborne Division in World War II.

Following the death of retired 1st Sgt. Harold Eatman, fewer than 16 of those paratroopers are alive today.

First Sgt. Eatman, 102, died Friday at his home in Matthews, near Charlotte, according to the 82nd Airborne Division. He jumped into Sicily, Salerno, Normandy, and Holland during the war, taking part in some of the most famous battles of the European theater.

A spokesman for the division said fewer than 2,800 paratroopers were involved in all four of those combat jumps.

“Harold Eatman was among the generation of All American paratroopers who defeated Nazism, liberated Europe, and inspired many generations of paratroopers to follow,” said Lt. Col. Joe Buccino, spokesman for the 82nd Airborne Division. “We always say that when you wear the Double A patch, you walk among legends. One of those legends has passed.”


https://taskandpurpose.com/82nd-airborne-paratrooper-eatman-death/

[dem4decades]

1. what a brave and I would guess lucky guy.

[Soxfan58]

2. Thank you Sgt. Eatman

For our freedom.

[MaryMagdaline]

3. Respect

My father did two of those jumps ... Normandy and Holland. 82nd Airborne. He was also at Battle of the Bulge but was not dropped there.

He died in 1994. Back was practically devoid of discs. Mr. Eatman must be made of steel to survive this long.

[braddy]

4. Airborne, buddy.

[denbot]

5. There goes a man made of sterner stuff than I.

As for luck, I’m pretty sure he used most of a large allotment getting home after 4 freaking combat jumps.

[Aristus]

6. This is what his airborne wings would have looked like:

Each bronze star at the bottom represents one combat jump. What an incredible achievement.

Thank you, Top Eatman. RIP.