Varsity: March 24th, 1945 - a day of horror

Exactly 76 years ago Operation Varsity took place von Saturday, March 24th, 1945. The two airborne divisions involved paid an extremely high price for the tactical success achieved on that day. For example, we know the names of 524 men of 17th Airborne Division who died on March 24 and the two days it took to consolidate the airborne bridgehead. Among that number are a few who died of wounds in the following days. However, about 90 % of the fatalities occurred on the day of the airborne assault - March 24th was a day of horror when you look at the numbers.

PFC Herschel C Badger, 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment.
KIA 24 March 1945

 

2nd Lt Irving S Brenner, 155th Airborne Anti Aircraft Battery. KIA on 24 March 1945

 

T/Sgt Robert L Byrnes, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment. KIA on 24 March 1945

 

T/5 Frank A Delmonaco , 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment. KIA on 24 March 1945.

 

PFC Robert S Durham, 466th Parachute Field Artillery Batallion. KIA on 24 March 1945

 

S/Sgt James G Gregory, 194th Glider Infantry Regiment. KIA 24 March 1945

 

PFC Noble L Helfer, HQ Coy 17th Airborne Division. KIA on 24 March 1945

 

1st Lt Kenneth L Johnson, 224th Airborne Medical Company.
KIA on 24 March 1945

 

Cpl Alfred F Kopchynski, 194th Glider Infantry Regiment.
KIA on 24 March 1945

 

PFC Fred C Kuhn Jr, 466th Parachute Field Artillery Batallion.
KIA on March 24th 1945

 

2nd Lt Herman Lemberger, 681st Glider Field Artillery Batallion.
KIA on 24 March 1945

 

T/5 Joseph Leonardo Jr, 224th Airborne Medical Company.
KIA on March 24th 1945

 

Sgt Mark C Levorson, 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment.
KIA on March 24th 1945

 

Pte Leo P Marceau, 194th Glider Infantry Regiment.
KIA on 24 March 1945

 

PFC Forrest K Martin, 194th Glider Infantry Regiment.
KIA on 24 March 1945

 

Cpl Steve J Mihalic, 466th Parachute Field Artillery Batallion.
KIA on 24 March 1945

 

PFC Lewis E Palmquist, 680th Glider Field Artillery Battalion.
KIA on 24 March 1945

 

PFC Elvis Reynolds, 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment.
KIA on 24 March 1945

 

PVC Roscoe E Schafer, 681st Glider Field Artillery Battalion.
KIA on 24 March 1945

 

S/Sgt William L Tippett, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment.
KIA on 24 March1945