Also remember Paul Raupach today. It is also the 82nd Anniversary of his death. Paul was a paratrooper who parachuted into Normandy in the early morning hours of D-Day. Paul was the 50th Edison Hero from World War II to be featured on this site. Click on this link to learn more about Paul.
Today is the 82nd anniversary of D-Day, the Allied invasion of France.
On the morning of June 6, 1944, Allied forces launched the largest amphibious invasion in history—Operation Overlord—to liberate Nazi-occupied Western Europe.
More than 156,000 American, British, Canadian, and other Allied troops, supported by nearly 7,000 ships and landing craft and over 13,000 aircraft, assaulted a 50-mile stretch of heavily fortified coastline in Normandy, France.
The operation began shortly after midnight with airborne divisions dropping behind enemy lines to secure bridges, roads, and key objectives. At dawn, soldiers stormed five beaches code-named Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword. American forces faced particularly fierce resistance at Omaha Beach, where thousands of troops fought their way inland against entrenched German defenses. By the end of the day, despite heavy casualties—over 10,000 Allied killed, wounded, or missing—the Allies had established a critical foothold on the European continent.
Memorial Day honors all U.S. military personnel who died in service.
Originally called Decoration Day, it began in the late 1860s as people decorated Civil War soldiers’ graves with flowers. In 1868, General John A. Logan, head of a Union veterans’ group, designated May 30 for this purpose, chosen for its neutrality and blooming flowers. By the late 19th century, it was a widespread tradition. Post-World War I, the holiday expanded to honor all American war dead. In 1971, Congress made it a national holiday.
This site was originally created to honor and memorialize the 116 Edison alumni who died in service during World War 2.
On 27May1949, the Friday before Memorial Day, a memorial plaque was dedicated and placed at the entrance to the school auditorium where it has been located for the last 77 years.
Through the diligent efforts of many, 7 Edison Heroes from the Korean War, and 14 Edison Heroes from the Vietnam War are now honored with memorial plaques hanging in the same hallway as the original World War 2 plaque. Click here to see pictures of the 3 plaques.
8May2026 is the 81th anniversary of V-E (Victory in Europe) Day. The unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany and the end of fighting in Europe.
World War 2 started on 1Sep1939 with the German invasion of Poland. The United States officially entered the war in Europe on 11Dec1941 when the United States Congress declared war on Germany.
In just under 6 years, it is estimated that the war in Europe killed between 15 million and 20 million civilians. Total military deaths (from both sides) are estimated at 13.7 million and 18.1 million.
An estimated 140,000 US soldiers, sailors, and airman died in the European Theater of Operations (ETO).
56 Edison Heroes are included in that total.
Walter Wojcik was the first Tommie to die when he was killed during the invasion of Sicily on 10Jul1943 while serving in Tunisia.
Dayhart Jacob was the last Tommie to die when he was killed in Austria on 30Apr1945, just 7 days before the war was over.
48 of the 56 Edison Heroes killed in the ETO have been featured on this site to date. Learn more about them here.
Remember Marvin Johnson today. He died of wounds received in an accidental explosion on 2Dec1945 while serving with the United States Navy in the Pacific.
Marvin is the 98th (of 116) Edison Hero from World War II to be featured on this site.
Edison Heroes 