DEDICATED TO OUR FALLEN PATHFINDERS KILLED IN ACTION AND MISSING IN ACTION 

Korean War

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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1st Cavalry Division Pathfinders KIA Vietnam

101st Airborne Division Pathfinders KIA Vietnam

Fox Co 4-101 Avn 159th CAB 101st Airborne Pathfinders KIA Afghanistan

Co C 509th Pathfinders KIA Operation Desert Storm

Fox Co 2-10 Avn 10th CAB 10th Mountain Division Pathfinders KIA Afghanistan

4th Aviation Bn 4th ID Pathfinders KIA Vietnam

52nd Security Det, 1st Aviation Bde Pathfinders KIA/MIA Vietnam

268th CAB 1st Aviation Brigade Pathfinders KIA/MIA Vietnam

10th CAB 1st Aviation Bde Pathfinders KIA Vietnam

145th CAB 1st Aviation Bde Pathfinders KIA Vietnam

14th CAB, 23rd Inf Div Pathfinders KIA Vietnam

13th CAB 1st Aviation Bde Pathfinders KIA Vietnam

25th Avn Bn 25th Inf Div Pathfinders KIA Vietnam

82nd Airborne Pathfinder Platoon

Individual Pathfinders

Iraq 

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SSG Joseph P. Bellavia 194th MP Co. 716th MP Bn, 101st Air Assault Division KIA Karbala 16 Oct 2003 Awarded Purple Heart

MSG Ivika Jerak 1st SOCOM KIA 25 Aug 2005. Awarded Bronze Star (2), Purple Heart

SFC Trevor J. Diesing 1st SOCOM KIA 25 Aug 2005. Awarded Bronze Star (2), Purple Heart.

CPT Michael Y. Tarlavsky 1st Bn 5th Special Forces Group KIA 12 Aug 2004 Awarded Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart

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Afghanistan

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SSG Christian Longsworth 3rd Bn 7th Special Forces Group KIA 19 May 2006 Awarded Purple Heart

SFC Matthew Blaskowski 2nd Bn 503rd PIR, 173rd Airborne Brigade KIA 23 Sept 2007. Awarded Purple Heart

SSG Larry I. Rougle 2nd Bn 503rd PIR 173rd Airborne Brigade KIA 23 Oct 2007. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart

MSG David L.  Hurt 1st Bn 3rd Special Forces Group KIA 20 Feb 2009. Awarded Bronze Star (2), Purple Heart

SFC Severin W. Summers III 2nd Bn 20th Special Forces Group KIA 2 Aug 2009. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart

SFC Carlos Santos -Silva 2nd Bn 508th PIR 82nd Airborne KIA 22 Mar 2010. Awarded Bronze Star (2), Purple Heart

MSG Jared Van Aalst 1st SOCOM  KIA 2 Aug 2010. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart

SFC Charles L. Adkins 101st Special Troops Bn 101st Airborne KIA 16 Apr 2011. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart

SFC Kristoffer B. Domeij 2nd Bn 75th Ranger Regiment KIA 22 Oct 2011. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart

WO1 Sean Mullen 2nd Bn 5th Special Forces Group KIA 2 June 2013. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart

SFC Samuel C. Hairston 1st Bn 504th PIR 82nd Airborne KIA 12 Aug 2014. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart

CPT Andrew Pedersen-Keel B Co 1st Bn 3rd Special Forces Group KIA 11 Mar 2013 Afghanistan. Awarded Bronze Star, Purple Heart

SFC William R. Brown 3rd Special Forces Group. KIA 6 Nov 2006. Afghanistan. Awarded Bronze Star with Valor, Purple Heart

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