1920-1992

Sparland, Illinois

508th PIR, 82nd Airborne Division

Purple Heart

Harry Bussell, a D-Day veteran, who fought with the 508th PIR, a unit under the 82nd Airborne. Here are some words Harry used to describe his experience during the invasion. "Many of my buddies became casualties, including myself. I was hit in the left wrist, head, and right arm with shrapnel, also shot through the right foot. After being hit, I was unable to join my buddies, I was taken prisoner of the Germans. Anyone who was in that Normandy Invasion would tell you that things were all so mixed up, and you were with troops you had never seen before." Harry was eventually freed by US forces and would go on to fight in Holland, Belgium, and Germany.