Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Malcolm Cohens-Ashley | WWII Veteran Clifford Stump shares a moment of laughter with a group known as the”...... read more read more
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VEGHEL, Netherlands -- Soldiers assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and the 2nd Brigade Combat Team attend Holy Mass and a Memorial Service on Sept. 11, 2022, at Veghel, Netherlands.
101st Airborne Division (AASLT) units honor World War II Veterans and the people of Holland by participating in Operation Market Garden 78 commemorations in and around Eindhoven, Netherlands.
“We stand here in Veghel today and across Brabant this week, in remembrance not only of our past, but mindful of our present,” stated Col. Ed Matthaidess, Commander of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). “Because it was for places like this, and for people like you gathered here today, that the Paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) fought and died some 78 years ago.”
For many, this was their first time experiencing this kind of history up close and for many this day may live on just like the history of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in Europe.
78 years ago, Operation Market Garden was one of the largest allied operations of the WWII. It took place in September 1944. The goal of the operation was to secure the key bridges over three wide rivers in the Netherlands (Maas/Meuse, Waal and Rhine) in order to outflank the heavy German defenses of the Siegfried Line (Westwall) which protected heartland Germany beyond the Rhine.
Market Garden would be the largest airborne operation in history, delivering over 34,600 men of the 101st, 82nd and 1st Airborne Divisions and the Polish Brigade. 14,589 troops were landed by glider and 20,011 by parachute.
The last time the Screaming Eagles had a large presence in Europe was during the allied invasion in 1944.
“We represent just a small contingent of the American Army that finds itself once again in Europe to defend the peace our World War Two heroes worked so hard to secure during the battles we commemorate this week,” remarked Matthaidess. “These Screaming Eagle Soldiers represent our ironclad commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.”
The start of Operation Market Garden began with Liberation Mass at the Sint Lambertus Church and after the conclusion of the service, Soldiers and spectators alike began to movement the Memorial Service site. Once at the site, a variety of orators addressed the crowd and were followed by poems, National anthems, last post, the laying of wreaths as well as minute of silence.
Once the official ceremony concluded, many spectators were able to shake hands, take photos and speak with the WWII veterans that were present for the ceremony, as well as various NATO partners and allies in attendance.
“I am excited our Soldiers will have a chance to connect with the people of the Netherlands,” said Matthaidess. “Thank you for remembering our fallen heroes, thank you for friendships that span the ages and thank you for allowing us to join you here today.”
Nearly 78 years later, on May 13, 2022, the Department of the Army announced the deployment of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Headquarters and the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Strike) from Fort Campbell, Kentucky back to the European theater to reinforce NATO’s Eastern flank.
| Date Taken: | 09.12.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 09.12.2022 14:15 |
| Story ID: | 429065 |
| Location: | VEGHEL, NL |
| Web Views: | 585 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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