Photo By Sgt. Tyler Morford | Mr. Henry Langrehr, WWII veteran and D-Day paratrooper on June 6, 1944, gets honorably...... read more read more
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There were many attendees at First Army’s Change of Command ceremony at First Army Headquarters, but as outgoing First Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Thomas S. James Jr., spoke about his 36 years of service and the people that helped inspire him throughout his career, he highlighted a special attendee in the audience that day on July 8, 2021.
Mr. Henry Langrehr, a WWII veteran who parachuted into France on D-Day, June 6, 1944, stood up at the ceremony to be recognized as the audience applauded him and his heroic service. Mr. Langrehr’s story is featured in the book, Whatever It Took, by author Jim DeFelice; the D-Day veteran’s story of his parachute jump into a glass greenhouse near the town of Sainte-Me're-Eglise is also featured in the 1962 film, “The Longest Day.”
Langrehr, from Clinton, Iowa, began his service in the Army in 1943 at Camp Dodge, Iowa. With orders from First Army, assigning him to the 82nd Airborne Division, Langrehr survived his jump through enemy anti-aircraft fire on D-Day and later detonated a bridge to prevent German forces from attacking inland toward the Normandy beaches in an operation named Operation Boston. In late June, after fierce fighting on the frontlines, Langrehr was wounded and taken prisoner by German Forces. After being sent to a POW camp and working in the coal mines with other Allied POWs, Langrehr escaped and found his way back to American lines after two weeks.
Langrehr’s awards for his actions during WWII include France’s Legion of Honor for the liberation of France, two Bronze Stars, and two Purple Hearts. Langrehr attended First Army’s Change of Command ceremony with his family and later shook hands with Lt. Gen. James after Gen. James’s retirement ceremony, conducted that same day.
| Date Taken: | 07.08.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 07.27.2021 09:44 |
| Story ID: | 400973 |
| Location: | ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, ILLINOIS, US |
| Hometown: | CLINTON, IOWA, US |
| Web Views: | 888 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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