{"id":38056,"date":"2018-07-08T18:50:49","date_gmt":"2018-07-08T18:50:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/07\/08\/wwii-paratrooper-82nd-airborne-legend-dies\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:17:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:17:44","slug":"wwii-paratrooper-82nd-airborne-legend-dies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/07\/08\/wwii-paratrooper-82nd-airborne-legend-dies\/","title":{"rendered":"WWII paratrooper, 82nd Airborne legend dies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One of the original members of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment \u2014 and one of fewer than 2,800 All American paratroopers <\/a>to have made all four World War II<\/a> combat jumps with the 82nd Airborne Division \u2014 has died.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Retired 1st Sgt. Harold Eatman was 102. He died Friday at home in Matthews, North Carolina, the 82nd Airborne Division <\/a>announced this weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHarold Eatman was among the generation of All American <\/a>paratroopers who defeated Nazism, liberated Europe, and inspired many generations of paratroopers to follow,\u201d said Lt. Col. Joe Buccino, spokesman for the 82nd Airborne, in a statement. \u201cWe always say that when you wear the Double A patch, you walk among legends. One of those legends has passed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eatman was one of fewer than 2,800 paratroopers to have made all four World War II combat jumps with the 82nd Airborne Division \u2014 in Sicily, Salerno, Normandy and Holland. Fewer than 16 now remain living, according to the 82nd Airborne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eatman volunteered to serve in the Army in 1942, according to the 82nd Airborne. He served in H Company, 505th Regimental Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, from October 1942 through September 1945.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His awards and decorations include the French Legion of Honor, the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, two Army Commendation Medals, and the Senior Parachutist Badge with four bronze stars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSome of my first memories of my grandfather are looking through an old, leather-bound edition of \u2018Saga,\u2019 the World War II history of the 82nd Airborne,\u201d Eatman\u2019s grandson, Micheal Kelly, told the 82nd Airborne. \u201cI made my first five jumps with his wings in my pocket for luck, and he pinned my wings on me at graduation from jump school. My grandfather influenced my whole life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe 82nd is part of my family\u2019s history, and my family is part of the division\u2019s history,\u201d Kelly added. \u201cMy grandfather was the first paratrooper in my family, but not the last. Myself, my older brother and his son all served in the 505.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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(1\/3) We are saddened to announce the passing of Ret. 1st Sgt. Harold Eatman at age 102 yesterday afternoon. An original member of the 505th PIR, Harold was among less than 16 living Americans who made all four WW2 combat jumps (Sicily, Salerno, Normandy, Holland) with the 82nd pic.twitter.com\/IlV2JsUQ7O<\/a><\/p>— All American Division (inactive) (@82ndABNDiv) July 7, 2018<\/a><\/blockquote>