John Champagne BERLIN

Source : fronkfam403 (Fold3)

Macr: 7801
Mission: Albany operation
- Dropping of paratroopers 501^st Parachute Infantry Regiment - DZ-C (Hiesville)
 Take-Off: Station 474 Welford, Berkshire UK - Dropping under 1:20
Shot down by flak at 1:20

Map Normandy American Cemetery

By :fronkfam403 (Fold3)

John Champagne Berlin was born July 11, 1923 in New Orleans, Louisiana to Frank Stokes and Marie Beulah Champagne Berlin. He had two older brothers, Robert Alfred (born 1916) and Francis X. (1918) as well as one younger brother, Daniel S. (1928). John spent much of his life in Jackson Barracks where the Louisiana National Guard is headquartered. His father, Frank, was a Captain. John also spent time in Arabi, a portion of the Lower 9th Ward in New Orleans.

He attended Nicholls High School (in New Orleans) and this is where he painted the mural. He did attend Holy Cross college before this, but at the time Holy Cross College had pre-college (lower grades) as well.

 John was a popular student at St Maurice Parochial School before he attended 3 years at the University of Holy Cross and finished his college work at Nicholls State. He was a very talented artist and painted a mural while at Nicholls that hung for a time in the public library branch across the street from the school.

 John completed his WW2 Draft Card on June 30, 1942 and listed his address in New Orleans with his parents. He was employed at Flintkote Company, a manufacturer of roofing products. On December 8, 1942, John enlisted in the US Army in New Orleans. He was assigned as a paratrooper in the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. Another young man who grew up with John, Louis A Frey, was also assigned to the same regiment although to a different battalion.

Source : fronkfam403 (Fold3)

Garden of the Pines Cemetery
Covington, St. Tammany Parish, LOUISIANA

Source : Peachy Pringle

Source : fronkfam403 (Fold3)

The 501st was trained at Camp Toccoa, Georgia and Camp MacKall, North Carolina until they were shipped overseas in January 1944. Information related to John's memorial stated that he was stationed at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana in December 1942; Camp Toccoa, Georgia also in Dec 1942; Ft Benning, Georgia from December 1942 to April 1943; and Camp MacKall, North Carolina April 1943 to July 1943.

Once in England, these young men started hard, realistic training for Operation Overlord, the secret Allied plan that we now know as D-Day. The soldiers themselves didn’t find out about the operation and their parts in it until just days before the actual operation.

 Louis Frey later wrote a letter to John’s father stating that the 501st took off at 11:30 PM on June 5th. They arrived along the French coastline at 1:30 AM on June 6th. As the men were waiting for the green light to jump, the German anti-aircraft fire started to light up the sky. Just as Louis hit the ground, he saw John’s battalion flying overhead.

 Tech 5 John Champagne Berlin was aboard troop carrier C-47 #42-24077 which was hit by German anti-aircraft fire and went down just outside of the small village of Founecrop, France. There is a plaque on the wall of a remote farmhouse which serves as a memorial to the 4 crewmembers and 17 paratroopers who died.

John gave his life in the service of his country.

He was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

He is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial and also at Garden of the Pines Cemetery in Covington, Louisiana.

We will remember his story.

Source : fronkfam403 (Fold3)

Source : fronkfam403 (Fold3)

Source : fronkfam403 (Fold3)

101^st AIRBORNE DIVISION - SCREAMING EAGLES

Activated/Activé	Normandy/Normandie
15 Aug 1942	Days of Combat/Jour de Combat  214
	Casualties/Victimes 9 328
Entered Combat/Entré au combat
6 Jun1944 D-Day
Commanding Generals/Commandants généraux Maj. Gen. William C. Lee (Aug 42 - Mar 44) Maj. Gen. Maxwell D. Taylor (Mar 44 - Dec 44) Brig. Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe (Dec 44 - Dec 44) Maj. Gen. Maxwell D. Taylor (Dec 44 - Sep 45)	Campaigns/Campagnes Normandy (6 Jun 44 - 24 Jul 44) Rhineland (15 Sep 44 - 21 Mar 45) Ardennes-Alsace (16 Dec 44 - 25 Jan 45) Central Europe (22 Mar 45 - 11 May 45)
PLAN DE ROUTE DE LA CAMPAGNE - CAMPAIGN ROUTE MAP
DIVISION CHRONICLE The 101st Airborne arrived in England, 15 September 1943, and received additional training in Berkshire and Wiltshire. On 6 June 1944, the Division was dropped into Normandy behind Utah Beach. Against fierce resistance it took Pouppeville, Vierville, and St. Come du Mont. On the 12th, the stronghold of Carentan fell, and after mopping up and maintaining its positions, the Division returned to England, 13 July, for rest and training. On 17 September 1944, taking part in one of the largest of airborne invasions, the 101st landed in Holland, took Vechel and held the Zon bridge. St. Oedenrode and Eindhoven fell after sharp fighting on the 17th and 18th. Opheusden changed hands in a shifting struggle, but the enemy was finally forced to withdraw, 9 October. After extensive patrols, the Division returned to France, 28 November, for further training. On 18 December, it moved to Belgium to stop the German breakthrough. Moving into Bastogne under the acting command of Brig. Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe, it set up a circular defense and although completely surrounded, refused to surrender on 22 December. Its perimeter held against violent attacks. The 4th Armored Division finally reached the 101st on the 26th and the enemy offensive was blunted. Very heavy fighting continued near Bastogne for the rest of December and January. On 17 January 1945, the Division moved to Drulingen and Pfaffenhoffen in Alsace and engaged in defensive harassing patrols along the Moder River. On 31 January, it crossed the Moder in a three-company raid. After assembling at Mourmelon, France, 26 February 1945, for training, it moved to the Ruhr pocket, 31 March, patrolling and raiding in April and engaging in military government at Rheydt and Munchen-Gladbach. The 101st reached Berchtesgaden by the end of the war and performed occupational duties until inactivation in Germany.	CHRONIQUE DE DIVISION Le 101st Airborne est arrivé en Angleterre, le 15 septembre 1943, et a reçu une formation supplémentaire dans le Berkshire et le Wiltshire. Le 6 juin 1944, la division est larguée en Normandie derrière Utah Beach. Contre une résistance féroce, il fallut Pouppeville, Vierville et St. Come du Mont. Le 12, le fief de Carentan est tombé, et après avoir nettoyé et maintenu ses positions, la Division est revenue en Angleterre, le 13 juillet, pour se reposer et s'entraîner. Le 17 septembre 1944, participant à l'une des plus grandes invasions aéroportées, la 101st débarque en Hollande, prend Vechel et tient le pont de Zon. St. Oedenrode et Eindhoven sont tombés après des combats acharnés les 17 et 18. Opheusden a changé de mains dans une lutte changeante, mais l'ennemi a finalement été forcé de se retirer, le 9 octobre. Après de longues patrouilles, la Division revint en France le 28 novembre pour suivre une formation complémentaire. Le 18 décembre, il a déménagé en Belgique pour arrêter la percée allemande. Déménagement à Bastogne sous le commandement de Brig. Général Anthony C. McAuliffe, il a mis en place une défense circulaire et bien que complètement encerclé, a refusé de se rendre le 22 décembre. Son périmètre tenu contre les attaques violentes. La 4e division blindée atteignit finalement la 101e le 26 et l'offensive ennemie fut émoussée. De très violents combats ont continué près de Bastogne pour le reste de décembre et janvier. Le 17 janvier 1945, la division s'est déplacée à Drulingen et à Pfaffenhoffen en Alsace et s'est livrée à des patrouilles de harcèlement défensif le long de la rivière Moder. Le 31 janvier, il a traversé le Moder dans un raid de trois compagnies. Après s'être rassemblé à Mourmelon, France, le 26 février 1945, pour s'entraîner, il s'installa dans la poche de la Ruhr, le 31 mars, patrouillant et faisant des raids en avril et s'engageant dans un gouvernement militaire à Rheydt et Munchen-Gladbach. La 101e a atteint Berchtesgaden à la fin de la guerre et a exercé des fonctions professionnelles jusqu'à l'inactivation en Allemagne.