Brian Keith Posted October 8, 2007 Share #1 Posted October 8, 2007 Milo "Bill" Ludy of Portland, IN; Co. G 501st Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. Here he is in his Class "A" uniform with his M1 Rifle. This was probably taken in Georgia. Notice the tar paper barracks. Notice his paratrooper boots, paratrooper insignia on his overseas cap, and just barly visible are his wings. Not apparent in the photo is that he a a newlywed man with his young bride back home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Keith Posted October 8, 2007 Author Share #2 Posted October 8, 2007 Milo "Bill" Ludy of Portland, IN; Co. G 501st Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. Here is Ludy in a formal studio portrait wearing his M1942 Paratrooper Jacket, with all the trimmings. This young man looks the very essence of cockey paratrooper! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Keith Posted October 8, 2007 Author Share #3 Posted October 8, 2007 Milo "Bill" Ludy of Portland, IN; Co. G 501st Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. In a letter written on May 25, 1944, to his brother in law, Lee Atha who was also in the Army, Bill writes, "The sooner things start popping the better I'll like it and I aim to be in on it. The sooner we all get in there the sooner we'll all get to go home. If I ever get back to Portland I'll never leave the old town again." On the night of June 5, 1944, ludy and his comrades loaded into C-47 aircraft # 43-30734 of the 77th 77th Troop Carrier Squadron, 435th Troop Carrier Group for the Invasion of Europe. The whole story of this aircraft is told in the book, "D-Day + 60 Years" by Jerome J. McLaughlin. McLaughlin's uncle (SSgt David Mackenzie) was the radio operator on the plane Ludy was assigned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Keith Posted October 8, 2007 Author Share #4 Posted October 8, 2007 Milo "Bill" Ludy of Portland, IN Co. G 501st Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. Ludy's plane was hit by two anti aircraft shells moments before arriving over it's DZ. The first shell hit the front of the aircraft and probably killed the forward air crew, the second hit near the tail. The plane tumbled from the sky, three paratroopers were able to get out, Ludy and the rest of the brave soldiers and airmen died about 1:20 AM, June 6, 1944, Normandy, France. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Keith Posted October 8, 2007 Author Share #5 Posted October 8, 2007 Milo "Bill" Ludy of Portland, IN Co. G 501st Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. Killed In Action June 6, 1944, Normandy France. In a letter written on May 25, 1944, to his brother in law, Lee Atha who was also in the Army, Bill writes, "The sooner things start popping the better I'll like it and I aim to be inon it. The sooner we all get in there the sooner we'll all get to go home. If I ever get back to Portland I'll never leave the old town again. Ludy's grave, near Portland, Indiana, his final resting place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Costa Posted October 8, 2007 Share #6 Posted October 8, 2007 a strong reminder of what they gave so we could have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMPERIAL QUEST Posted November 29, 2007 Share #7 Posted November 29, 2007 "...If I ever get back to Portland I'll never leave the old town again." It is chilling to read these words, and then look at his grave. Exceptional Heart, and a very special memorable keepsake. I love these Hearts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Keith Posted November 29, 2007 Author Share #8 Posted November 29, 2007 Yes, he was quite prophetic in a way he never intended. BKW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted November 29, 2007 Share #9 Posted November 29, 2007 very nice Brian Was he carried as MIA for w period of time before he was classified as KIA ? The reason I ask is because that medal would not have been issued until mid 1945 based on the engraving style. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Keith Posted November 29, 2007 Author Share #10 Posted November 29, 2007 Interesting, I don't think he was listed as MIA. I will have to look at the items again. I think the widow was notified fairly soon. We don't have the shipping box for the PH but have a few other things. They came directly from the widow a very few years ago. BKW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted November 29, 2007 Share #11 Posted November 29, 2007 Interesting, I don't think he was listed as MIA. I will have to look at the items again. I think the widow was notified fairly soon. We don't have the shipping box for the PH but have a few other things. They came directly from the widow a very few years ago. BKW There can be many reasons for a time delay on the issuance of the medal, but a later "finding of death" due to being kept in MIA status for a " year and a day " is the most common reason. Often, the body might be recovered later and the FOD date would have been revised to the intitial MIA date too. Only the IDPF will tell for sure unless you have all the original paperwork. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Keith Posted November 30, 2007 Author Share #12 Posted November 30, 2007 I just looked in the display case, we have a newspaper clipping from July 24, 1944, telling of his D-Day death. BKW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrapneldude Posted November 30, 2007 Share #13 Posted November 30, 2007 A true patriot. Eager to fight for his country. It's a terrible shame he didn't make it, but that's the cost of freedom. Thanks for sharing this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmshindy Posted November 30, 2007 Share #14 Posted November 30, 2007 Speachless.... thanks, pmshindy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Keith Posted June 3, 2009 Author Share #15 Posted June 3, 2009 To Honor those who participated on "D-Day", I'm bumping this up today. Some of you folks may not have seen it. BKW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Dentino Posted June 3, 2009 Share #16 Posted June 3, 2009 Very nice and a great tribute to a brave man that gave his all for all of us! Thanks for bumping it up to the top for those of us that hadn't seen this one before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blake_E Posted June 4, 2009 Share #17 Posted June 4, 2009 Thanks for posting, great photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAST Posted June 4, 2009 Share #18 Posted June 4, 2009 To Honor those who participated on "D-Day", I'm bumping this up today.Some of you folks may not have seen it. BKW Brian, Thanks for bringing this thread back up. I don't think I saw it the first time around. This is a fitting tribute to honor all of those who fell on that day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted June 4, 2009 Share #19 Posted June 4, 2009 Me neither. What a somber story. -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDK Posted June 5, 2009 Share #20 Posted June 5, 2009 I agree, a true piece of history from a very historical day. Remember these guys on Saturday!! JD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigJohn#3RD Posted June 6, 2009 Share #21 Posted June 6, 2009 Milo "Bill" Ludy of Portland, IN Co. G 501st Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division.Ludy's plane was hit by two anti aircraft shells moments before arriving over it's DZ. The first shell hit the front of the aircraft and probably killed the forward air crew, the second hit near the tail. The plane tumbled from the sky, three paratroopers were able to get out, Ludy and the rest of the brave soldiers and airmen died about 1:20 AM, June 6, 1944, Normandy, France. Here is the General Order for the issue of his Purple Heart. You can write for a copy of it at a records holding area in College Park Maryland. Ludy, Milo W., PFC, 501st Parachute Infantry, 101st Airborne Division Purple Heart (101ABDivAGOBD) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Keith Posted June 6, 2009 Author Share #22 Posted June 6, 2009 Thanks Big John! BKW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattS Posted June 6, 2011 Share #23 Posted June 6, 2011 I'm bumping this thread in remembrance of those men lost 67 years ago today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Baker Posted June 6, 2011 Share #24 Posted June 6, 2011 This one is a favorite. Good to see it again, especially today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted January 20, 2016 Share #25 Posted January 20, 2016 Thanks for posting the link to this group. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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