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11th Airborne Division Association - "Angels"

We are a 501(c)(19) which honors 11th Airborne Division Angels / veterans and their loved ones.

11th Airborne Division Association - Angels

22 hours ago

On June 1, 1962, Colonel Edward H. Lahti retired from the US Army after over 30 years of military service. "Big Ed", or "Slugger", served with the 11th Airborne Division's 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment as a battalion commander, then regimental XO and finally regimental commander after the death of the 511th's beloved COL Orin D. "Hardrock" Haugen in February of 1945. COL Lahti's career illustrates his courage, leadership and ability to inspire both his officers and enlisted men. He was always proud to be a Paratrooper, for "Lahti knew he was amongst the best of the best. A breed apart, John Wayne, Tarzan, MacArthur, Custer, all wrapped up into each and every hand picked soldier in the Airborne Command.”As one report later noted, "Colonel Lahti was an outstanding Army man and Officer. There probably hasn’t been another Officer in the short history of the Airborne who has contributed as much in so many diversified assignments to the success of the Airborne community, as we know it today.” If you would like to learn more about this outstanding Angel, please visit www.arlingtoncemetery.net/ehlahti.htmOr consider purchasing the book DOWN FROM HEAVEN: THE 11TH AIRBORNE DIVISION IN WORLD WAR II - VOLUME 1 which covers much of Big Ed's early career in the airborne - www.amazon.com/Down-Heaven-Airborne-Division-Campaign/dp/B0B8BPD918 ... See MoreSee Less

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11th Airborne Division Association - Angels

4 days ago

Memorial Day 2023: On February 11, 1945, the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment's legendary commander Colonel Orin D. "Hardrock" was wounded while the 11th Airborne Division fought to take Nichols Field on Luzon. Orin, known simply as "Rock" by his young Paratroopers, was with the Division's Major General Joseph May Swing as they reviewed the 511th PIR's progress and current situations. The two Angels were in a second floor room along with a handful of others when a Japanese 40-mm round hit the table and burst, sending a piece of shrapnel deep into Rock's chest. Initially he was stabilized and called on every one of his units ever day to check on his boys. On February 22, surgeons elected to fly Hard Rock to Biak Island, Indonesia for further care and recuperation. An Air Force Tech Sergeant was calling roll to double check his load of litter patients. When he got the name “Haugen,” a wounded A-511’s SGT Marvin Lewis stood ramrod straight nearby with his arm in a sling and growled with the pride of one of Hard Rock’s Boys, “That’s COLONEL Haugen, Sergeant!” Unfortunately, as their C-47 medical transport flew towards Army Hospital No. 9 at “Base H”, a squadron of Japanese Zeros bounced the flight. Records indicate that the 804th Medical Air Evacuation pilots performed emergency maneuvers and after the skies were clear, Hard Rock characteristically asked the nurse for a cigarette.When the nurse returned after checking on the others in the plane, the 11th Airborne Division would be changed forever: COL Orin D. “Hard Rock” Haugen was dead. At age thirty-eight, the Rock who had helped develop parachute techniques for the United States Army with the 501st and 502nd PIBs, who had been a training officer at Fort Benning and who led the 511th through the trials of Camp Toccoa to the training grounds of Benning and Camp Mackall then pushed them at Camp Stoneman and Dobodura before enduring the fires of Leyte and Luzon by their side was gone. The Angels were stunned. Many said in disbelief, "It can’t be. Not our Rock.” D-511’s CPL Wilbur Wilcox, who served under Haugen all the way from Camp Toccoa to Luzon, paid the ultimate compliment by saying, “Colonel Haugen was an enlisted man’s officer.”Haugen’s obituary expressed sentiments shared across the 11th Airborne Division: “Orin was a brave and gallant soldier. His constant unselfish devotion to duty was an inspiration to all who knew and served with him. His memory will live always in the hearts of his family and many friends.” 2LT Bill Abernathy of RHQ-511 wrote, “(Haugen) was the best field commander I ever hope to see and everyone in the division feels the same way."William E. Lindau, a war correspondent for YANK magazine who saw Haugen in action the Pacific Theater, said, “He was one of the bravest and best soldiers I have ever seen.”When asked in 1949 what commendations Orin had received, his old West Point classmate LTC Robert Allen Ports responded: “(He) should have had everything the Army could give him.”To learn more about Colonel Orin D. Haugen, please check out the book WHEN ANGELS FALL: THE 511TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT IN WORLD WAR II - www.amazon.com/When-Angels-Fall.../dp/1087303184 Down From Heaven! -JCH#11thairborne #511pir #downfromheaven #WWII #usarmy ... See MoreSee Less

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11th Airborne Division Association - Angels

4 days ago

Memorial Day 2023: My grandpa, 1LT Andrew Carrico of D-511, mentioned that the Angels buried their dead where they fell on Leyte in World War II because there wasn't a way to carry out the fallen during the campaign.Look closely at this photo that was taken of the Angels' cemetery in December of 1944 on what Grandpa and the other Paratroopers of the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment called "Rock Hill" after their commander, Colonel Orin D. "Hard Rock" Haugen. Each wooden cross was hand-made, often by a buddy to the fallen Angel. Quiet words were said by Platoon or Company commanders and the chaplains who were up front with the men.Thinking of the brave young Paratroopers who they had to bury there, Jim Holzem of B-511 said it was "the saddest place on earth” (thank you Trevor M Larson for sharing)B-511's 1LT John "Johnny" Ringler said, "You never leave your buddies; they were as much of you as you were yourself. And I think that personal feeling carried you through when you lost one. It was devastating.”To slightly paraphrase President John F. Kennedy, "The cost of Freedom is always high, but (these) Americans.... paid it."Most of their mortal remains were later recovered and reburied in cemeteries across the Pacific or back stateside. Some fallen Angels were never found and are listed on the Tablet of the Missing in Manila. All deserve our remembrance this Memorial Day weekend. -JCH#11thairborne #511pir #downfromheaven #leyte #wwii ... See MoreSee Less

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