8Forlorn hope - Wikipedia A forlorn hope is a band of soldiers or other combatants chosen to take the leading part in a military operation, such as an assault on a defended position, where the risk of casualties is high.[1] Such a band is also known as the "enfants perdus" (lit. "Lost Children").[2] Combat Jump FOURTH COMBAT JUMP Date: 14 September 1943 Unit: 2nd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment 1st Platoon, C Company, 307th Airborne Engineers Battalion (AEB) Operation: AVALANCHE (GIANT III) Troopers: 640 (599 from the 509th PIR, 41 from 1st Plt C Co 307th AEB) Country: Italy Dropzone: Avellino 13 Sep 43 - 82nd Airborne Division recieves orders from General Mark Clark who was struggling to maintain a foothold on the Salerno Beachhead to have the 504th RCT to perform a drop mission on the Salerno Beachhead within friendly lines south of the Sele River on the night of 13 Sep 43, 505th RCT would perform a drop mission on the same location on the night of 14 Sep 43 to shore up the beachhead defenses. The 2nd Bn 509th PIR with 1st Platoon, C Company, 307th Airborne Engineers is directed to conduct a drop mission 20 miles behind enemy lines on the mountain villiage of Avellino, Italy on the night of 14 Sep 43, Operation GIANT III. 14 Sep 1943 - 509th PIR Conducted the first American Pathfinder operation behind enemy lines at Avellino, Italy 14 Sep 43 - 509th PIR Air-Assualted Avellino, Italy (Sorrento Mountains), Operation GIANT III to disrupt enemy communications and to delay a German Infantry Regiment from reinforcing the enemy counterattack against the 5th Armys landing at Salerno. German Commanders miscalculated the size of the Parachute force that landed around Avellino believing that a Parachute Regiment had landed in the area. As a result an entire German Infantry Regiment held in reserve that was planned to go into the fight against the beachhead was diverted to conduct Anti-Parachute Operations around Avellino. The mission was considered a Suicide Mission and the 2nd Bn 509th PIR with 1st Platoon, C Company, 307th Airborne Engineers spent about three weeks behind enemy lines. Forty planes with 640 paratroopers conducted the drop mission. Suprisingly three weeks later about 510 paratroopers had returned to friendly lines. 30 Sep 43 - Paratroopers of the 509th PIR begin to return to friendly lines after the 34th Infantry Division captures Avellino, Italy The list of names below is only of the 599 Paratroopers of the 2nd Bn, 509th PIR that made the jump. Names of the 41 Paratroopers from the 1st Plt C CO 307th AEB will be added if an accurate list of names can be located. There were other Paratroopers assigned to the 509th at the time that did not make the jump due to being assigned on other missions or in the hospital. RANK FIRST MI LAST Pvt. Stanley J. Abramczyk Pfc. Richard D. Adams Sgt. Robert P. Akers Pfc. Houston C. Akins Pvt. John L. Albert Capt. Carlos C. Alden Pvt. Warren S. Aldridge Cpl. John F. Alexander Pfc. Noel W. Allison T-5 Jack NMI Alongi 1st Sgt. James C. Anderson Cpl. Lyman W. Anderson Pfc. William L. Andrew Sgt. Joseph J. Anslow Pfc. Victor D. Aponte Pvt. Harold E. Austin T-4 Harold A. Bachman Pfc. Julian L. Baker Pvt. James H. Ballantine T-5 Roy R. Barlow Pvt. Alphard L. Barnett Sgt. Elwood G. Barnhardt Pvt. Robert M. Barnthouse Pvt. Joseph NMI Barressi T-5 James W. Bates Sgt. Kelly C. Bath T-5 Everett W. Baxter Pvt. WIlliam L. Beall Pvt. Stanley NMI Beatham Pvt. Hubert I. Beatty Pvt. Albert NMI Beauchesne T-5 Leslie W. Beavers Pvt. Jack C. Benbrook Pvt. Earl A. Bethune Pfc. John N. Betters Pfc. John L. Betts Pfc. John A. Bickl Sgt. Carl E. Bigham 1st Lt. Stephen J. Bires Capt. Archie W. Birkner Sgt. Ellis L. Bishop Sgt. Lloyd K. Bjelland Pvt. Edward NMI Black T-5 Louis J. Bodor Pvt. Theodore R. Boettcher Capt. Erven E. Boettner Pfc. Charles D. Boisvert Cpl. Burl E. Bolesta Pvt. Walter T. Borowiak T-5 Ernest NMI Boudoin Cpl. Lloyd P. Bourn S/Sgt. Ralph B. Bourn Pfc. William R. Bowers Pfc. Samuel P. Bowser Sgt. Johnie N. Boyce Pvt. Alfonso NMI Brandolino Pvt. Anthony NMI Brandolino Pfc. Clyde S. Branthover Jr. Cpl. Daniel NMI Brenner Cpl. Eugene B. Brewer Pvt. Bruce H. Bristow Pfc. Denzel G. Brittain Pvt. James M. Broadway Pfc. Raymond L. Brockman Pvt. George J. Broderick Pfc. Albert E. Brown Pfc. Odus A. Brown S/Sgt. Joseph L. Buchanan T-5 Fred C. Burch Pfc. Louis C. Burdsal Pvt. Edward NMI Burns Pvt. William E. Bush Cpl. James W. Bussey T-4 Archie W. Byrd Sgt. James E. Cabe Sgt. Ray C. Cagle T-5 George W. Caldwell Pvt. Clarence G. Callahan Pvt. Loran G. Calloway Pvt. Oscar A. Calloway Pfc. Hugh D. Camp Pvt. Herbert W. Carls Cpl. Ray NMI Carr Cpl. Henry E. Carroll Pfc. Levi W. Carter Sgt. Louis J. Catizone Sgt. Harold T. Caufield T-5 Edward F. Cebrat Pfc. Joseph NMI Cernak Pvt. George B. Chaffin 1st Sgt. Brad NMI Chalker Sgt. Loran E. Chambers T-5 Walter A. Cherry Sgt. Roderick E. Child Pvt. Odell W. Childress Pfc. Lenwood R. Choquette Cpl. Paul NMI Chorniak Pfc. On NMI Chow Pvt. Charles C. Christensen Pfc. Charles F. Christy Cpl. Charles NMI Cipy Cpl. Ross W. Clem Pfc. Gordon R. Cobb Pvt. Herbert M. Coberly Pfc. Charles R. Coffell Cpl. John W. Colbert Jr 1st Lt. Cullen E. Cole Sgt. Richard H. Coleman Pvt. Arthur R. Collier Cpl. Boggs G. Collins T-5 Wilbur C. Collins Pfc. Ralph E. Colwell Cpl. Russell P. Cook Pvt. Wesley M. Coon Pvt. Ivan A. Cooper Cpl. William C. Cooper S/Sgt. John F. Costello Pvt. Joseph A. Cote? Pvt. Garland H. Cox Cpl. Martin J. Coyle Sgt. Thomas J. Crane Sgt. John E. Crenshaw T-5 Oscar F. Crevelling T-5 Martin W. Crites Pfc. Elton R. Crocker Pfc. Raymond W. Crockett T-5 John R. Cross Pfc. Edward H. Crowther Capt. Casper E. Curtis Pvt. Homer A. Curtis Pfc. Joseph NMI Cyprus Pfc. Thaddeus C. Czolgosz T-5 Thaddeus J. Dabrowski Pfc. Albert NMI Dager Pfc. WIlliam E. Daley T-5 Robert D. Daves S/Sgt. Robert B. David Cpl. Roy W. David Pfc. Burdette H. Davie Sgt. Donald E. Davis Pfc. Fay T. Davis Pfc. Leslie B. Davis Sgt. William H. Davis Pfc. Clarence G. Dawkins Pfc. Barney O. DeBary T-4 Nicholas R. DeGaeta 1st Lt. Dan A. DeLeo 1st Lt. Hugh C. DeLury Pfc. Roger E. Derringer Cpl. Walter J. Derrow Pfc. Kenneth H. Dewald Pvt. Robert L. Dial S/Sgt. Arthur E. Dickerson Pfc. Burt E. Dockins Pfc. Floyd H. Dodd Cpl. LeRoy E. Dokey Sgt. Raymond J. Donavan Cpl. Robert L. Doyle Pfc. Charles H. Doyle Jr Maj. William R. Dudley Pfc. Milford L. Dugan T-4 Francis J. Dulin Sgt. Woodrow F. Dunlap T-4 Thomas NMI Dunlavey Pvt. Carl E. Dunphy Pvt. Frank A. Durand Pfc. Roger W. Durant Pvt. Walter J. Dwyer Pvt. Rex L. Dye Cpl. Wallace H. Eaker T-5 William I Eckroth Pvt. John D. Egri Pfc. John F. Eichorn Pfc. Otto NMI Ekman Jr Pfc. Donald B. Ellis Pfc. Ord E. Elmore Pfc. F. C. (I.O.) Elrod Cpl. Walter G. Endlich Pvt. Ralph NMI Erickson Pvt. DeMont S. Erland Pvt. James S. Fabri Cpl. Clifford E. Fain Cpl. Henry C. Faircloth S/Sgt. Charles J. Farmer T-5 Eugene J. Felippelli Pvt. Herbert NMI Ferguson T-4 Theodore J. Fina Cpl. Richard D. Fisco Pfc. James R. Fisher Pfc. John NMI Fisher Pvt. Norman NMI Fishman S/Sgt. Burnett H. Fite T-5 Samuel M. Flagler Cpl. Wiley J. Flohr Pfc. Andrew J. Floyd Jr Pvt. Jack NMI Foley 1st Sgt. George G. Fontanesi Pfc. Johnnie C. Ford T-5 John V. Forni Pvt. Laurent E. Fortier Cpl. Ora A. Foster Sgt. LeVerne S. Fox 2nd Lt. Lowell W. Frank Pfc. Mitchell T. Franks Pvt. Wallace H. Freese Pvt. Charles W. Friend Pvt. George D. Friley Cpl. Adolph NMI Fuessel S/Sgt. Charlie B. Fuller Pvt. Arthur J. Gagnon 1st Lt. John T. Gee Pfc. Fred R. Gerber Pvt. Edward R. Gill Pfc. Frank B. Gill Jr Pfc. Stanley B. Gilman Pfc. Melvin E. Glen Pvt. Edward D. Godlewski Pfc. Stanley M. Gonya 1st Lt. Richard J. Grabow Pvt. Theodore R. Grabowski Sgt. Eugene R. Grafe S/Sgt. Harold C. Graff Pvt. Hilton E. Graham Pvt. Johnnie NMI Graham 1st Sgt. Jack V. Greene Pvt. Robert H. Greene Cpl. John A. Greider Pfc. Kenneth NMI Gridley Pvt. Michael E. Grimes Pfc. Paul D. Grimes Pfc. Walter E. Gruszka Pvt. Thomas A. Gubach Sgt. Henry G. Guethle Pfc. Wesley E. Gunderson Pfc. James G. Haddock S/Sgt. Gordon R. Hahn Pvt. Eugene R. Hall T-5 Everett J. Hall Sgt. Henry NMI Hamilton Pfc. James R. Hammonds Cpl. Russel G. Harvey Capt. Seldon D. Harvey Sgt. John T. Hayes Cpl. Clyde NMI Helton Pfc. John E. Hendricks Sgt. William J. Herb Pfc. Joe NMI Hernandez T-4 Howard H. Herr Jr Cpl. Edwin C. Hicks Pvt. Robert L. Hodgkiss Pvt. Gerald T. Hogan 1st Lt. Hugh C. Hogan Pvt. Robert F. Holcombe Jr T-4 Carl NMI Holden Cpl. Romas E. Holder Pvt. Charles Z. Hollada Pvt. Edward E. Holley Pfc. Harold W. Hollister S/Sgt. Charles O. Holmes Pvt. Frederick V. Holmes Cpl. William J. Holtz Pvt. Louis NMI Homoki Sgt. Charles W. Hood Pvt. Daniel E. Hooker Pvt. William I. Hooker Cpl. Leland R. Hottum Sgt. Emmanuel C. House Sgt. Paul B. Huff Pfc. William A. Huffman Sgt. James C. Hughes S/Sgt. Baker NMI Hunter S/Sgt. Romaine W. Hutchings Cpl. Leo C. Inglesby 2nd Lt. Frank NMI Jackson Pfc. John NMI Jaloway T-5 William R. Jameson Pfc. Guy W. Jeanes Cpl. Dixie C. Johnson Cpl. John J. Johnson Pvt. Robert L. Johnson Cpl. Lewis L. Jones Pvt. Robert L. Jones Pvt. Stephen D. Justice Pvt. Richard C. Kalinoski 1st Lt. William G. Kautz T-5 Robert F. Kealen Pfc. Francis L. Keane Pvt. Early K. Keiffer Pvt. Arthur L. Kellar Pfc. Harold M. Kennedy Pvt. James P. Kenny 1st Lt. Albert L. Kinderknecht Pvt. Clifford C. King S/Sgt. William H. King Cpl. Charles R. Kirk Pvt. Vincent J. Kleysteuber 2nd Lt. John J. Klish Pvt. Henry D. Klisiewicz Cpl. Burl J. Knapp Sgt. Ernest R. Komula Pvt. Benjamin J. Koswaski Pfc. Theodore J. Kotlowski Pfc. John M. Kozar Pfc. William E. Kreiser S/Sgt. John J. Kresena Sgt. Edward NMI Krzywonos Pvt. Steve E. Kucharski Pfc. Marcus NMI Kukec T-5 Theodore A. Kutkoski Sgt. Richard NMI LaForge Pfc. Frank B. LaMendola Pvt. Joe H. Lamey Pvt. Victor NMI Langer Pvt. Vito J. Laudicina Sgt. Howard E. Laudwig Pvt. Leroy A. Lauer Sgt. Alton B. Lavelle Pfc. Stanley H. Leavy Pfc. Edward R. LeCarpentier S/Sgt. Lehman NMI Lecompt Sgt. Joseph W. Lee Sgt. Wesley NMI Lee Jr Cpl. Paul E. Legg Pvt. Alfred H. Leide Pvt. Albert C. Lewis Pfc. Russell B. Locklear T-4 Darl F. Longwell Pvt. George NMI Lord Pfc. Charles J. Louer Pfc. Charles J. Loveday Pfc. James C. Lowhorn Pfc. Jesse J. Luczyk Pfc. Robert P. Lutton Pfc. Robert W. MacDonald Pvt. Wilbur S MacDonald 1st Lt. Robert C. MacLane Pfc. Gabor C. Madaras S/Sgt. Charley E. Maddox S/Sgt. Leon C. Maenhout Pvt. Carmine J. Manente Pvt. Constantine NMI Markunas Pfc. George F. Marnecheck Pfc. Felix B. Marsh Pfc. William T. Marshall T-5 Archie O. Martin Cpl. James M. Martin 1st Lt. John R. Martin Cpl. John T. Martin Pvt. Leo W. Martin Pvt. Warren F. Martin S/Sgt. Wilbur D. Martin Pvt. Edgar J. Masten Pfc. James T. Matheny T-4 George A. Matson Cpl. Elmer R. Maurer Pfc. Robert L. Mayle Pvt. Milford F. Maynard Pvt. Royal D. Maynard 1st Lt. Justin T. McCarthy Cpl. James M. McClure Sgt. Walter L. McCook S/Sgt. Elzie B. McCullough Pvt. Joseph J. McDonnell Pfc. Warren NMI McGee Pfc. James E. McGrath Pfc. Robert W. McHale Pfc. John S. McHenry 1st Lt. Charles H. McKinney T/Sgt Lester C. McLaney Pfc. James NMI Mederios Cpl. Harold D. Metzger Pfc. George W. Michal Pvt. Vernon D. Middleton Sgt. Edward R. Miller Sgt. Lincoln NMI Miller Pfc. Robert W. Miller Pvt. James G. Mitchell Pfc. Marshall E. Mitchell Pvt. Joseph S. Moffo Pfc. Robert R. Mongeon Pvt. Jack E. Monreal Cpl. Dorsey W. Moody Sgt. Joseph H. Moore Sgt. Lester L. Moore Pvt. Mariano L. Mora Cpl. Lynn M. Morrical Pvt. Russell C. Morris Sgt. William E. Moses Pvt. Pete NMI Mrvosh T-5 Francis H. Mulholland Pvt. Thomas J. Mullaney Pfc. Henry E. Murray Pvt. Harold H. Murren Pfc. Joseph P. Nader Pfc. Nicholas NMI Nagurne Pfc. Arthur G. Nelson Pfc. Ernest E. Nelson Pvt. Lester NMI Neuder Pfc. Roman L. Niewienglowski T-4 James H. Nixon Pvt. William J. Nolan Pvt. William E. Norwood Pvt. Stephen NMI Nowakowski Pvt. William C. Nugent Sgt. James W. Nunn Pfc. George NMI Olesh Jr Pvt. Joseph J. O'Brien Pfc. Ray NMI O'Neil Pfc. Victor A. Osburn T-4 Charles J. Otzel Pvt. George W. Pappas Pvt. Henry R. Pardieck 1st Lt. Robert W. Parker 2nd Lt. Cyrus C. Parks Pvt. Charles E. Parten Sgt. Robert V. Patsch Pfc. French P. Patterson Sgt. Alvin M. Patton Pfc. John R. Patton Pvt. Edward M. Pawloski Pvt. Floyd E. Pemberton 1st Lt. Fred E. Perry Pvt. John J. Perry T-4 Edward J. Petersen Cpl. Arden O. Peterson Cpl. George NMI Petrisko Pfc. Anthony J. Petrosky T-5 Alfred C. Petzold Pfc. Harry NMI Phillips Pvt. Fred C. Pickney Jr Pvt. Richard L. V. Pieper 1st Lt. Val S. Pierson 1st Lt. Jack NMI Pogue Pfc. Robert N. Poindexter Pvt. Abner NMI Pols Pvt. Lee W. Polson Pvt. Garnet G. Porter Pfc. Billy D. Powell Pfc. Michael J. Powers Pfc. William K. Prather Pvt. Green B. Presley Cpl. William C. Price Cpl. Merse J. Process Pvt. Carroll C. Proctor Pfc. Louis E. Provost Cpl. Elihu NMI Puckett Sgt. John E. Pumphrey Sgt. Claud H. Purvis Pvt. James M. Pyles S/Sgt John W. Ramsden Pvt. James B. Ray Pvt. Wayne D. Reeves Pfc. Anderson R. Reichert Pfc. Richard J. Reuschling Pfc. Darwin E. Reynolds Pfc. J. F. Rhodes Jr Pvt. Walter NMI Rice T-5 Charles W. Richards Pvt. Samuel M. Richards Cpl. Bernard L. Roberts Pvt. Glen V. Robertson Pvt. David C. Robinson S/Sgt Douglas T. Robinson Pfc. John F. Robison 1st Lt. Leo L. Rodriques Pvt. Frank NMI Romero Pvt. Charles W. Ronald Pfc. Roland W. Rondeau Pfc. Milburn NMI Rook 1st Lt. Henry F. Rouse Pfc. George N. Russ Tech 5 Albert A. Sabat Pfc. Victor J. Sandonato S/Sgt Marshall R. Savell Cpl. Clyde W. Scarbrough T-5 Harry F. Schulaski Pfc. Harold NMI Seay Pvt. Avery NMI Sellers T-5 Michael NMI Sembrat Sgt. Lincoln S. Sennett 1st Lt. Vernon NMI Sexton T-5 Marion W. Shade Pvt. Charles M. Sheridan T-5 George J. Sheridan 1st Lt. William M. Sherman Cpl. William NMI Sherman T-5 Robert L. Sheveland Pfc. Agder S. Shirley 1st Lt. Ernest T. Siegel 1st Lt. Alvin W. Siegfriedt Cpl. Thomas L. Silas S/Sgt William H. Simmons T-5 Clifford E. Simonds Pvt. William E. Simons Pfc. Wilson NMI Simons Pfc. James E. Simpson Cpl. James F. Singleton Pvt. Alfred C. Smith Pfc. Charles A. Smith Cpl. Edward J. Smith Pfc. James F. Smith Pfc. John F. Smith T-5 Robert H. Soden Pvt. Michael NMI Solvay Pfc. William A. Soska Pfc. Vincent J. Sousa Pvt. Lonnie P. Sowers Pvt. Harry R. Spoeneman Cpl. Leon P. Sporish S/Sgt Leo E. Stambaugh Pvt. Casimir A. Stanuikynas Cpl. Edwin M. Stapleton Pvt. George W. Stenger T-4 James E. Stephens Pfc. Edward G. Stevens Pfc. Harvey T. Stilley Jr Cpl. Albert NMI Stynowick Pvt. Robert G. Suarez S/Sgt William W. Sullivan Sgt. William A. Sutherland Cpl. Leonard A. Swatsenbarg Pvt. George J. Szalamacha 1st Lt. Vincent S. Tabor Pfc. Stephen J. Tamborski 1st Lt. John W. Teasley Pfc. Jacques NMI Theaux Pfc. Marion W. Thomas Pvt. James E. Thomason S/Sgt Arthur R. Thompson T-5 James C. Thompson Cpl. Kalmer G. Thompson Pvt. Ralph D. Thornton Sgt. Gerald K. Tilney Capt. Edmund J. Tomasik Pfc. Harry E. Tracey 1st Lt. Leon L. Tracy Pfc. Murphy J. Trahan Pfc. Larry T. Trevison T-5 Alvin L. Trumbull Pvt. Victor F. Trzeszkowski Sgt. Martin L. Ullicny Pvt. Michael P. Underhill Pvt. Green W. Unthank Pvt. David R. Vail Pvt. Aureliano S. Valdez Pvt. Philip NMI Vallacchi Pfc. William NMI Vanderberg Pfc. Royden V. Vandervort Cpl. Lloyd E. VanGuilder T-5 Guadalupe NMI Vasquez 1st Sgt. Joseph NMI Viteritto Pfc. George NMI Voleta S/Sgt Arthur W. VonEssen Pvt. Stephen P. Vorodi Cpl. Joe L. Wagner Pfc. Albert J. Walker Sgt. John E. Walker Pfc. Vernon O. Walker Pfc. Robert R. Waller Pfc. Odus M. Wardlow Pfc. Billie NMI Watson Pfc. Pete NMI Way 2nd Lt. Orval W. Webb 2nd Lt. Solomon NMI Weber T-5 John S. Webster Pfc. Roland NMI Weeks Pvt. Otto D. Weer Cpl. Edwin G. Wegner Pfc. Charles J. Weldon Pvt. Lloyd C. Wells 1st Lt. Laverne P. Wess Pvt. Clarence F. Westphal Pvt. James S. Whitacre Pfc. Curtis N. Whitehead Capt. Ralph H. Whitmore Jr Pfc. Richard L. Wiedelman Pfc. Henry G. Wilburn Pvt. Curtis NMI Williams T-5 Monroe E. Wills 1st Lt. Lloyd G. Wilson T-4 Paul V. Wilson Pfc. Phillip L. Wilson Pvt. Rex M. Wilson 1st Lt. Joseph J. Winsko Pvt. Frank NMI Wisniewski Sgt. William F. Withem Pfc. Chester J. Witkowski Cpl. Edward F. Wojcik S/Sgt Franklin W. Wolfe Pvt. David E. Womble Cpl. Charles NMI Woodhead Cpl. George A. Worthington Pfc. Sam Y. Woung Lt. Col. Doyle R. Yardley Pfc. Alvin NMI Zadell Pfc. Joseph L. Zadlo Pvt. John NMI Zalinskie Pfc. Jack M. Zenker T-4 Alphonse A. Zoucha