NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — In the heart of New Orleans, where the Mississippi River flowed and jazz melodies filled the air, a group of young men embarked on a journey that would forever change the course of their lives and the history of their beloved city.
Among these brave souls was Army Private Whitney J. Faulk, hailing from the streets of
New Orleans. Joining the 29th Infantry Division, Faulk pursued his dreams of defending
freedom, only to meet a tragic end on the shores of Omaha Beach alongside his fellow
soldiers.
The dawn of June 6, 1944, marked D-Day, the pivotal invasion of Normandy that turned the
tide of World War II. Amidst the chaos of battle, Faulk’s life was extinguished, his sacrifice
etched in the sands of Omaha Beach. He now rests in eternal peace at the Normandy
American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France.
As members of the 29th Infantry Division, their valor knew no bounds, their dedication to
duty unyielding even in the darkest hours of battle.
Navy Petty Officer First Class Richard David Harang, of New Orleans, served valiantly with the Seventh Beach Battalion NCDU. Amidst the chaos of the D-Day invasion, Harang was among the 35 brave men of the naval combat demolition unit who lost their lives. His sacrifice remains a solemn testament to the immense bravery and dedication of Navy personnel during this pivotal moment in history.
He rests in peace at the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, France.
John Champagne Berlin, a proud son of New Orleans, remains Missing in Action. His Douglas C-47A “Skytrain” troop transport plane was shot down by German anti-aircraft fire at 1:20 a.m. while on a mission to drop paratroopers over France.
The aircraft crashed in flames near Picauville, France.
Berlin is memorialized at the Picauville Memorial, which honors the airmen of the 9th Air Force’s Troop Carrier Command and the troops of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions who lost their lives in the area on June 6, 1944.
Army Technician Sergeant Alexander Oakley, a native son of New Orleans, served with the
467th Anti-Aircraft Automatic Weapons Battalion, Company B. His name is now enshrined
at St. Louis Cemetery 3, a solemn tribute to his ultimate sacrifice for freedom.
Another New Orleanian, Army paratrooper John E. Bray Jr., assigned to the 101st Airborne,
506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, faced the horrors of war when his aircraft was shot
down near Magneville, France. Though Bray initially survived the crash, he succumbed to
his wounds, forever remembered at Greenwood Cemetery in New Orleans.
Army Air Forces Staff Sergeant Alvin T. Rainey, of Orleans Parish, served as a radio operator with the 7th Bomber Squadron, 34th Bomber Group. His B-24 Liberator, initially assigned to the 486th Bomb Group and nicknamed “Tommy Thumper,” flew seven missions before being transferred and renamed “Misery Agent.” On D-Day, the aircraft embarked on its first mission with the 34th Bomb Group. Tragically, as it flew toward Normandy to support the assault on the beachhead, it ran out of fuel at 9:45 a.m. and crashed into trees near Corfe Castle, Dorset. The aircraft exploded on impact, igniting a fire that killed all on board.
The remains of six crew members were recovered from the wreckage, alongside several unexploded bombs. The loss of Staff Sergeant Rainey and his comrades is a somber reminder of the sacrifices made on that fateful day.
In the neighborhoods of New Orleans, the families of these fallen heroes now bear the title
of Gold Star Families, a symbol of their profound sacrifice. These families, having lost their
loved ones in the horror of battle, embody the strength and resilience of a community
united by grief and pride. Their homes were adorned with gold Star flags.
As New Orleans mourns the loss of its sons, their names etched in the annals of history, the
memory of their courage lives on in the hearts of those who cherish freedom’s gift. Their
sacrifice serves as a beacon of hope in the darkness of war, a reminder of the spirit of the
men and women who fought and died for liberty. The legacy of these young men, and the
families who continue to honor them, reinforces the enduring truth that the price of
freedom is eternally written in the hearts of those who gave everything to secure it.
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