Please take a moment to view this memorial service video
The Official Electronic Newsletter of the Veterans and Descendants of the
U.S. 17th Airborne Division, WWII
The mission of the "Scions of the 17th Airborne" is to honor the service of all veterans of the 17th, and to educate others about the history and sacrifices made by the troopers who served in this division during WWII.
We strive to accomplish these missions by holding regional gatherings where troopers and their families can gather, and by sharing their recollections. We communicate with our membership using this "Thunder From Heaven" newsletter, through our website, and on our Facebook page. Additionally, we collect documents related to the history of the 17th and make them available to our membership.
OPERATION VARSITY, 76 YEARS AGO TODAY
by Scions President Jeff Schumacher
March 24th, 1945 is a date well known to the troopers of the 17th Airborne Division, the British 6th Division, their families, descendants and those liberated in the days that followed.
These soldiers embarked on what we know as Operation Varsity, the scale of which we cannot comprehend, to meet and vanquish an awaiting foe, the ferocity of which we cannot imagine. Together they were forged into and remain a brotherhood... men who look at one another and know, recall, feel and taste that indescribable shared experience.
The numbers of Operation Varsity were staggering: in excess of 17,000 airborne troops aboard 1,700+ aircraft and towing more 1,300 gliders with nearly 1,000 fighter escorts. An air train over 200 miles in length. At 0953 local time, the first aircraft arrived at the target destination - across the Rhine River in Germany in the areas surrounding Wesel and Hamminkeln. This would be the last Airborne operation of WWII - the largest single day airborne operation in US military history. The operation was greatly successful, with the US and Allied forces pushing their way east. It was also the most costly in terms of single day casualties.
Too many were lost, and we honor them and their families. Thankfully - and some would say miraculously - many returned to their homes and families to march on in their pursuit of happiness as fathers, brothers, uncles, grandfathers, godfathers...and continue to serve their communities and country. To those who have since passed on, we will continue to remember and honor you. For those still sharing their lives and wisdom with us, we offer our humble and sincerest Thank You for your Service, and indeed for all you do.
In closing, I ask you to please take a few precious moments today to pause think of and thank our 17th Airborne Division Troopers and their Allied comrades as we observe the 76th anniversary of Operation Varsity on this - their Day of Days - March 24th, 1945.
Airborne...
Jeff Schumacher
President
Scions of the 17th Airborne Division
Proud son of John J. Schumacher (194/D & HQ)
OPERATION VARSITY Memorial Slideshow
As we are unable to gather at present, we hope you take a moment to reflect and to view this brief but hopefully fitting memorial service, given respectfully in honor of our relatives in the 17th. Click the image below.
