Remembering a D-Day hero

393

Remembering a D-Day hero
LTC Frank Lillyman
photo/submitted

Region –This week, Americans and their counterparts in Western Europe are stopping to reflect and commemorate the 75th anniversary of an important date in history – D-Day, the date Allied forces invaded Normandy, France.

We are grateful to Benjamin Tartaglia of Shrewsbury for sharing this wonderful story of LTC Frank Lillyman, credited as being the first American paratrooper to drop behind enemy German lines during that invasion. Lillyman was the uncle of Tartaglia’s brother-in-law Joseph Lillyman, who lives in Sterling, Mass.

As Tartaglia said, “We are unable to imagine the heroism of the ’greatest generation.” Lillyman’s story is proof of that bravery displayed by so many young men and women during that terribly dark time.

It was on June 6, 1944, that Allied forces invaded northern France by means of beach landings in Normandy. The operation began the liberation of German-occupied France (and later western Europe) from Nazi control, leading to the Allied victory on the Western Front. .

The first man credited with landing in Normandy that day was LTC Frank Lillyman of Binghamton, New York. According to valor.militarytimes.com/hero/22387, Lillyman was the Commanding Officer of the 101st Pathfinder Company (Provisional), 502d Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. Riding in the leading plane of the Pathfinder Element, Lillyman was one of the first Allied soldiers to make a parachute jump in the airborne assault on Normandy. Although under incessant enemy fire from the time he landed, he assembled his Pathfinder Group, located the drop zones and directed the setting up and operation of homing devices for the guiding of the following waves of parachute planes to the correct drop zones. When attacked by the enemy forces Lillyman led his men in the successful defense of this vital area and provided cover for the landing of the follow-up wave of parachute troops. News accounts note that the Lillyman, who was 29 at the time, led the way smoking his trademark cigar.

Lillyman was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for “his inspiring leadership, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 101st Airborne Division, and the United States Army.”

According to news reports at the time of his passing, Lillyman went on to have a long military career, eventually serving in both the Korean Conflict and Vietnam War before retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1968. Lillyman died March 8, 1971, at age 55, after suffering a stroke.

No posts to display