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    89-year-old WWII vet honors fallen comrade in France [Image 1 of 8]

    89-year-old WWII vet honors fallen comrade in France

    ST. AVOLD, FRANCE

    06.02.2014

    Photo by Brandon Beach 

    21st Theater Sustainment Command

    Leslie Palmer Cruise Jr., an 89-year-old World War II veteran from Horsham, Pa., salutes the gravesite of Pfc. Richard Vargas during a wreath laying ceremony here at Lorraine American Cemetery June 2. Both Cruise and Vargas served as paratroopers with H Co., 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne, and were part of the airborne assault during the D-Day invasion June 6, 1944. The next day, while members of the 82nd Airborne tried to secure a roadblock, Vargas was fatally struck by a mortar shell. Cruise was inches from him when the shell exploded but was unharmed. He moved Vargas to cover and provided care to his fallen comrade until the field medic arrived. Later that day, Cruise learned that Vargas had died en route to the aid station. Organized by the National Warplane Museum, the wreath laying ceremony was part of this week’s 70th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. (Photo by Brandon Beach, 21st TSC Public Affairs)

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    IMAGE INFO

    Date Taken: 06.02.2014
    Date Posted: 06.04.2014 10:30
    Photo ID: 1378875
    VIRIN: 140601-A-GM630-001
    Resolution: 3002x1994
    Size: 1.45 MB
    Location: ST. AVOLD, FR

    Web Views: 138
    Downloads: 14

    PUBLIC DOMAIN