DEDICATED TO OUR FALLEN PATHFINDERS KILLED IN ACTION AND MISSING IN ACTION
Korean War
MSG Joseph T. Bass 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team Pfdrs. Also was a WWII Normandy Pathfinder with 501st PIR 101st Plane 7. KIA 9 Sept 1950 Korea while serving with the 27th Inf Regt 25th Inf Division. Awarded Silver Star, Bronze Star (2), Purple Heart (3)
World War II
The men below all served as Pathfinders during WWII. Some were killed while performing their Pathfinder duties and others after they returned to their parent unit. All of the 82nd Airborne Pathfinders were awarded the Bronze Star for heroism for the D-Day Pathfinder jump.
101st Airborne Division - 35 known
PVT John H. Funk H Co 502nd PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 11 June, 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Purple Heart
PVT John D. Kleinfelder 502nd PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 31 Dec 1944 Holland. Awarded Bronze Star (2), Purple Heart
CPL George C. Dagres C Co 1st Bn 502nd PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 31 Dec 1944 Bastogne Belgium. Awarded Purple Heart
2LT Lawrence G. Hensley Jr HQ Btry 377th PFAB, 101st Pfdrs 24 June 1944 Normandy France Died of wounds. Awarded Purple Heart
PFC Robert R. Blankenship D Co 2nd Bn 506th PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 16 Jan 1945 Bastogne Belgium. Awarded Purple Heart (2)
CPL Jack E. Mattz D Co 2nd Bn 506th PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 23 or 24 Sep 1944 Holland. Awarded Purple Heart
PFC John Sherbon D Co 2nd Bn 506th PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA16 Jan 1945 Belgium. Awarded Purple Heart
PFC Terrence C. Harris B Co 1st Bn 506th PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 18 June 1944 Carentan, Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
CPT Roy M. Kessler A Co 1st Bn 506th PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 15 Jan 1945 Bastogne Belgium. Awarded Bronze Star (2), Purple Heart
PFC Donald W. Carter B Co 1st Bn 506th PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 7 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
1LT John W. Ell Co H and Co I 501st PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA18 Sep 1944 Holland. Awarded Bronze Star
SSG Chester Garretson Co I 3rd Bn 501st PIR, 101st 27 Dec 1944 Died of Wounds in POW Camp. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
Tech 5 Kendell C. Lewis Co I 501st PIR, 101st Pfdrs Belgium KIA 20 Dec 1944 Bastogne Belgium. Awarded Purple Heart
PFC Donald J. McDougall Co I 3rd Bn 501st PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 6 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Purple Heart
PVT George L. Sarlas C Co 1st Bn 501st PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 17 Sept 1944 Holland. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PVT Stanley S. Suwarsky HQ 3rd Bn 501st PIR 101st Pfdrs KIA 6 June, 1944 Normandy, France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
1LT Joseph G. McGregor E Co 501st PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 9 Jan 1945 Belgium. Awarded Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart
CPL Russell G. Waller 501st PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 18 Sep 1944 Holland. Awarded Purple Heart
PFC Ralph A. Newton F Co 501st PIR, 101st Pfdrs 23 Dec 1944 Bastogne Belgium Died of wounds. Awarded Purple Heart
PVT Walter V. Olender E Co 2nd Bn 501st PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 18 Sept 1944 Holland. Awarded Purple Heart
PFC Harold E. Sellers F Co 501st PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 6 June, 1944 Normandy, France. Awarded Bronze Star. Awarded Purple Heart
CPL Delbert S. Brazzle A Co 1st Bn 501st PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 17 Sept 1944 Holland. Awarded Purple Heart
SGT George Adomitis B Co 1st Bn 501st PIR, 101st Pfdrs 2 Feb 1945 Bastogne Belgium Died of wounds. Awarded Purple Heart
PFC Stephen Via Jr. B Co 1st Bn 501st PIR 101st Pfdrs KIA 6 or 7 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Purple Heart
PVT Alvin Daley B Co 1st Bn 501st PIR 101st Pfdrs 5 Oct 1944 Holland Died of wounds. Awarded Purple Heart
Tech SGT Thayer U. Carlton HQ Co 3rd Bn 506th PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 10 June 1944 Caen, Normandy France. Awarded Purple Heart
PFC Wilbur D. Croteau G Co 506th PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 9 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PFC George E. Kenfield I Co 506th PIR 101st Pfdrs KIA 10 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Purple Heart
SGT John J. Houk 506th PIR, 101st Pfdrs KIA 6 June, 1944 Com Du Mont, Normandy France. Awarded Purple Heart
SGT Louis DiGaetano C Co 326th Airborne Engineer Bn 101st Pfdrs 6 Jan 1945 Bastogne Belgium Died of wounds. Awarded Purple Heart
PVT Domenick Chirico E Co 2nd Bn 502nd PIR 101st Pfdrs KIA 18 or 22 Sept 1944 Holland. Awarded Purple Heart
PVT Michael Rofar I Co 3rd Bn 501st PIR 101st Pfdrs KIA 17 Sept 1944 Holland. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PVT John D. Kleinfelder RHQ and A Co 502nd PIR 101st Pfdrs. KIA 31 Dec 1944 Bastogne Belgium. Awarded Bronze Star (2), Purple Heart
2LT Napoleon T. Lavallee F Co 2nd Bn 502nd PIR 101st Pfdrs KIA 3 Jan 1945 Belgium. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PVT Roy L. Stephens RHQ 502nd PIR 101st Pfdrs KIA 17 Sept 1944 Holland. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
82nd Airborne Division - 30 known
SSG Thomas L. Rodgers C Co 1st Bn 504th PIR, 82nd Pfdrs KIA 15 June, 1944 Normandy France. Distinguished Service Cross, Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PFC William L. Gray B Co 1st Bn 504th PIR 82nd Pfdrs KIA 6 June, 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PVT James M. McCormick HQ 3rd Bn 507th PIR 82nd Pfdrs KIA 10 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
1LT Lloyd L. Polette Jr. F Co 2nd Bn 508th PIR, 82nd Pfdrs KIA 22 Jan 1945 Belgium. Awarded Distinguished Service Cross, Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PFC Carl W. Jones E Co 2nd Bn 508th PIR 82nd Pfdrs KIA 4 July 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PFC Murray E. Daly D Co 2nd Bn 508th PIR 82nd Pfdrs KIA 12 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
CPL Earnest J. King F Co 2nd Bn 508th PIR 82nd Pfdrs KIA 9 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
2LT Elbert F. Hamilton D Co 2nd Bn 82nd Pfdrs 4 July 1944 Normandy France Died of wounds. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
2LT Gene H. Williams HQ 3rd Bn 508th PIR, 82nd Pfdrs KIA 20 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PFC Arnold H. Martin H Co 3rd Bn 508th PIR 82nd Pfdrs KIA 6 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PFC Walter W. Harrelson 508th PIR 82nd Pfdrs KIA 23 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PFC Charles H. Rogers HQ 3rd Bn 508th PIR 82nd Pfdrs1 Oct 1944 Holland. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
2LT Edward J. Czepinski 508th PIR, 82nd Pfdrs KIA 12 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PVT Henry S. Pawlings G Co 3rd Bn 504th PIR 82nd Pfdrs KIA 6 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PVT Ralph W. Nicholson G Co 3rd Bn 508th PIR, 82nd Pfdrs 6 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PFC John R. Bergendahl HQ 1st Bn 507th PIR 82nd Pfdrs. KIA 6 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star. Purple Heart
1LT Claude V. Crooks Jr. Co I 3rd Bn 507th PIR 82nd Pfdrs. KIA 23 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star. Purple Heart
PVT James J. Currin A Co 1st Bn 505th PIR 82nd Pfdrs. KIA 6 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
CPL Russell B. Dillard HQ 2nd Bn 507th PIR 82nd Pfdrs. KIA 23 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star (2), Purple Heart
PFC Walter A. Heinemann B Co 1st Bn 505th PIR 82nd Pfdrs. KIA 23 June 1944 Normandy. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PVT Dale C. Hudson F Co 2nd Bn 505th PIR 82nd Pfdrs. KIA 16 June 1944 Normandy Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
SGT Jerome Shapiro HQ 2nd Bn 507th PIR 82nd Pfdrs. KIA 5 July, 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
2LT Elmer R. Stull 508th PIR 82nd Pfdrs. KIA 23 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PFC Louis C. Waldorf E Co 2nd Bn 507th PIR, 82nd Pfdrs KIA 12 June 1944 Normandy France Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PFC John Rigapoulos (Rigopoulos) H Co 3rd Bn 504th PIR 82nd Pfdrs KIA 20 Sept 1944 Holland. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
SGT Charles L. Burghduff A Co 1st Bn 505th PIR 82nd Pfdrs KIA 21 Sept 1944 Holland. Awarded Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PFC John J. Baldassar H Co 3rd Bn 504th PIR 82nd Pfdrs KIA 28 Sept 1944 Holland. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PVT Joseph W. Manfredi E Co 2nd Bn 504th PIR 82nd Pfdrs KIA 14 June 1944 Normandy France. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart
PVT Joseph A. Byrne H Co 3rd Bn 504th PIR 82nd Pfdrs KIA 17 June 1944 Normandy. Awarded Purple Heart (listed as Burns on 82nd Bronze Star orders)
PFC Leslie D. Fries A Co 1st Bn 505th PIR 82nd Pfdrs KIA 15 Sept 1944 Holland Died of wounds. Awarded Bronze Star (2), Purple Heart
509th Parachute Infantry Battalion - 2 known
SGT Stephen D. Justice C Co 509th PIB Pfdrs, KIA 28 Dec 1944 Belgium. Awarded Purple Heart
PVT Frank J. Sweetitz HQ Co 509th PIB Pfdrs, 1st Airborne Task Force KIA 21 Aug 1944. Southern France. Awarded Purple Heart
517th Parachute Infantry Battalion - 4 known
PVT Carl L. Barrett C Co 1st Bn 517th PIR Pfdrs First Airborne Task Force KIA 23 Dec 1944 Ardennes Belgium. Awarded Purple Heart
PFC Henry A. Ciner RHQ 517th PIR Pfdrs, First Airborne Task Force KIA 15 Aug 1944 Le Muy Southern France. Awarded Purple Heart
PVT George J. Scecina A Co 1st Bn 517th PIR Pfdrs, First Airborne Task Force KIA 15 Aug 1944 Southern France. Awarded Purple Heart
SGT William H. Delaney C Co 1st Bn 517th PIR Pfdrs First Airborne Task Force KIA 21-26 Dec 1944 Belgium. Awarded Purple Heart
551st Parachute Infantry Battalion - 2 known
Tech 5 Wendell E. Morrison HQ Co 551st PIB Pfdrs, 1st Airborne Task Force KIA 14 or 15 Aug 1944 Southern France. Awarded Purple Heart
PVT Gerna W. Sizemore 551st PIB KIA 3 Jan 1945 Belgium. Awarded Purple Heart
IXth (9th) Troop Carrier Command Provisional Pathfinder Group 8 - known
2LT Eugene P. Shauvin MIA/KIA 17 Sept 1944 Holland Pilot. Awarded Purple Heart
2LT John F. Richards KIA 17 Sept 1944 Holland Navigator Awarded Purple Heart
2LT Walter I. Green KIA 17 Sept 1944 Holland Co-Pilot Awarded Purple Heart
2LT Matthew Bloomfield KIA 17 Sept 1944 Holland Radio Operator Awarded Purple Heart
SSG Stanley Fischer KIA 17 Sept 1944 Holland Crew Chief Awarded Purple Heart
SSG Raymond G. Sievert KIA 12 Nov 44 He was a Normandy Radio Operator Plane 2 Awarded Purple Heart
2LT Centers, Robert "Bob" J. KIA 12 Nov 44 He was a Normandy Pilot Plane 2 Awarded Purple Heart
2LT Branit, William B. KIA 26 Nov 44. He was a Normandy Co-Pilot Plane 3 Awarded Purple Heart
Served in WWII 501st PIR 101st Pfdrs and 187th ARCT Pfdrs Korea
1st Cavalry Division Pathfinders KIA Vietnam
Formerly 11th Pfdr Co. KIA on 2nd tour with 12th Cav. Gunshot wound to abdomen. Purple Heart, CIB, Airborne and Pathfinder qualified. Photo credit vvmf.org
Purple Heart, CIB. Airborne and Pathfinder qualified.
Gunshot wound to neck at Binh Dinh Province. Attached to 12th Cav. Purple Heart, CIB, Airborne and Pathfinder qualified. photo credit vvmf.org
Bronze Star(2), Air Medal, ARCOM, Purple Heart, CIB. Airborne and Pathfinder qualified. photo credit George Brewster
Hot landing Zone at Binh Dinh Province. Small arms fire. Purple Heart, CIB, Airborne and Pathfinder qualified. Photo credit vvmf.org
Small arms fire while base camp under attack at at Quang Nam Province. 229th Team. Airborne and Pathfinder qualified. Photo credit vvmf.org
Corporal 227th Team. Enemy ground fire in Binh Dinh. Silver Star, Purple Heart, CIB. Airborne and Pathfinder qualified.
Helicopter Crash. CIB, Airborne and Pathfinder qualified. Photo credit Janna Hoehn
Binh Dinh Province. Small arms fire. Bronze Star with V (2), Air Medal, Purple Heart, CIB. Airborne and Pathfinder qualified. Photo credit vvmf.org
Photo Credit Tom Reese
KIA by machine gun fire in Phuoc Long Vietnam 29 Aug 1970 Attached to 1st Bn 8th Cav. Bronze Star(2), Air Medal, Purple Heart CIB. Airborne and Pathfinder qualified. Photo credit vvmf.org
Died from shrapnel wound when base came under attack. Purple Heart, CIB. Airborne and Pathfinder qualfied. Photo credit vvmf.org
Formerly 11th Pfdr Co. Killed on 2nd tour with advisory team 162. Silver Star, Purple Heart, CIB. Airborne and Pathfinder qualified. Photo credit K Brech
Died during mortar attack while directing aircraft in a hot LZ. Bronze Star, Air Medal, Purple Heart, CIB. Photo credit Bryan Simmons
101st Airborne Division Pathfinders KIA Vietnam
Silver Star, Bronze Star(2), Air Medal with Valor, CIB, Purple Heart. Airborne and Pathfinder qualified. Had recently transferred to L Co 75th Rangers. Photo credit vvmf.org
Thua Thien Province. Small arms fire in a hot LZ. Silver Star, Bronze Star, Air Medal, Purple Heart, CIB, Airborne and Pathfinder qualified. Photo credit vvmf.org
Thua Thien Province. Small arms fire in a hot LZ. Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, CIB, Airborne badge, Pathfinder Torch. photo credit vvmf.org
CIB, Purple Heart. Had recently transferred to L Co 75th Rangers. Photo credit vvmf.org
Killed while flying on a Pathfinder mission. Shot by small arms fire. CIB, Purple Heart, Airborne and Pathfinder qualified. photo credit vvmf.org
Killed at Firebase Ripcord by mortar fire. Bronze Star(2), Purple Heart, Air Medal, CIB. Airborne badge Pathfinder torch. Photo credit Timothy Bohan
Bronze Star, Air Medal, Purple Heart, CIB, Airborne badge Pathfinder torch.
Died in a mortar attack at FSB Ripcord. Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart. Airborne badge Pathfinder torch. Photo credit Martin Clarke
Fox Co 4-101 Avn 159th CAB 101st Airborne Pathfinders KIA Afghanistan
Killed by improvised explosive device. Awarded Purple Heart. photo credit 101st Airborne Division
Killed by improvised explosive device. Awarded Purple Heart. photo credit 101st Airborne Division
Wardak Province. Bronze Star, Purple Heart, CIB. photo credit Hercules family.
Killed by improvised explosive device. Purple Heart. photo credit 101st Airborne Division
Killed by improvised explosive device. Purple Heart. photo credit 101st Airborne Division
Killed by improvised explosive device. Purple Heart. photo credit 101st Airborne Division
Killed by improvised explosive device. Purple Heart. photo credit 101st Airborne Division
Former 6th Bn 101st Avn Regiment, 101st Airborne Pathfinders. KIA 3 Feb 2006 Iraq. Awarded Bronze Star with Valor, Purple Heart.
Co C 509th Pathfinders KIA Operation Desert Storm
Purple Heart, CIB. Helicopter shot down while on search and rescue mission. Airborne, air assault and Pathfinder qualified.
Helicopter shot down while on search and rescue mission. Purple Heart, CIB, Airborne and air assault qualified.
Fox Co 2-10 Avn 10th CAB 10th Mountain Division Pathfinders KIA Afghanistan
Mortar attack. Bronze Star, Purple Heart, CIB, Ranger tab, Airborne, air assault and Pathfinder qualified. Photo credit 10th Mountain Division
4th Aviation Bn 4th ID Pathfinders KIA Vietnam
52nd Security Det, 1st Aviation Bde Pathfinders KIA/MIA Vietnam
Dak Seang. Killed while on a Pathfinder mission by small arms fire. Silver Star, Bronze Star with V(2)Purple Heart, ARCOM with V, Air Medal(2). Photo Credit Mary Montana
Dak Seang. Missing in action after firefight while on a Pathfinder mission. Was last seen alive and shot multiple times. Silver Star, Bronze Star with V, Purple Heart, Air Medal, POW Medal. Airborne and Pathfinder qualified. Photo Credit Larry Fuhr
268th CAB 1st Aviation Brigade Pathfinders KIA/MIA Vietnam
Missing in action. Purple Heart, CIB. Airborne and Pathfinder qualified. Photo credit Donna Elliott
Purple Heart(2), CIB, Airborne and Pathfinder qualified. Photo credit Mike Teutschman
10th CAB 1st Aviation Bde Pathfinders KIA Vietnam
Quang Duc Province. Posthumous promotion to Sergeant. Died in a Mortar Attack, Air Medal, Purple Heart, CIB, airborne badge, pathfinder torch. Photo Credit Billy Phillips
10th CAB, 1st Avn Bde. Died when helicopter shot down while attached to 281st ASHC. Body not recovered. Purple Heart, Air Medal, Airborne badge. Photo credit Joyce Jeppson.
145th CAB 1st Aviation Bde Pathfinders KIA Vietnam
Woody was killed by sniper as he was moving off LZ. Bronze Star with V, Air Medal with V(2), Purple Heart, CIB. Also served with 173rd and made a combat jump. Airborne and Pathfinder qualified. photo Credit vvmf.org
14th CAB, 23rd Inf Div Pathfinders KIA Vietnam
Quang Ngai Province, Purple Heart, CIB, Airborne Wings, Pathfinder Torch
Quang Ngai Province. Purple Heart. CIB, Airborne and Pathfinder qualified. Photo credit Jerry Sepulvado
13th CAB 1st Aviation Bde Pathfinders KIA Vietnam
Kien Tuong Province. Helicopter explosion. Attached to 114th AHC. Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal(4), CIB. Airborne and Pathfinder qualified. Photo credit vvwf.org
25th Avn Bn 25th Inf Div Pathfinders KIA Vietnam
Photo credit Roger Heilig Jr
Photo credit David Olsen
Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart, CIB. Died on 2nd tour with 506th PIR. Photo credit vvmf.org
82nd Airborne Pathfinder Platoon
KIA 11 April 2004 Baghdad Iraq. He previously was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division Pathfinder Platoon. Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal
