Coronado native drew international headlines late in life by doing tandem jumps to honor service members who didn't come home from the war
Tom Rice, a World War II paratrooper who jumped into Normandy on D-Day and in his later years marked anniversaries of that pivotal battle by jumping again, died Thursday at his home in Coronado. He was 101.
“I came home and they didn’t,” he once told the Union-Tribune. “I don’t want anybody to forget them.” In the early morning hours of D-Day, June 6, 1944, he was among some 18,000 paratroopers who flew from England to German-occupied France at the leading edge of the largest air, sea and land invasion in history.
He linked up with 50 other paratroopers and glider pilots, signaling to each other with clickers and passwords. At one point, they surprised and captured hundreds of Germans.Near the end of D-Day, he and two other soldiers guarding a canal gate killed a German soldier in a firefight. They made a crude cross out of tree limbs and buried him in a garden. Rice could tell by a patch on the German’s uniform that he was a paratrooper, too. He took the patch.
Over the years, Rice became a regular presence at veterans and military events here and elsewhere, especially as the number of World War II vets dwindled. He was featured in a documentary film about the 75th anniversary of D-Day. Hilltop High named its library after him in 2019.
México Últimas Noticias, México Titulares
Similar News:También puedes leer noticias similares a ésta que hemos recopilado de otras fuentes de noticias.
Beloved WWII Veteran Tom Rice dead at 101 -SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – A beloved World War II veteran, Tom Rice, passed away Thursday at the age of 101. Rice was part of the 101st Airborne Division, and is known for re-creating his D-Day jump in Normandy on the 75th anniversary. Rice continued to jump out of planes over the course of his life, and even did so over...
Leer más »
Close friends remember beloved WWII veteran Tom Rice'He was always willing to try something new. He was very positive.' Rice died in his sleep shortly after midnight on Thursday. He was 101 years old.
Leer más »
Facebook convinced time travel is real after ‘cellphone’ spotted in WWII picSleuths have spotted a fellow in a black and white 1940s photograph where he appears to be using a device way too high tech for the decade.
Leer más »
Bludorn team's Navy Blue, one of Houston's most anticipated new restaurants, opens in Rice VillageThe Bludorn restaurant team’s much-anticipated second project, opens Nov. 18 as...
Leer más »
UTSA vs. Rice: Five things to watchThe Roadrunners can secure home field in the Conference USA championship game and move...
Leer más »