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LTC Gorham led the Battaion from its inception to Operation Husky. For his extraordinary heroism during the operation he was awarded two Distinguished Service Crosses and the Purple Heart. General Jim Gavin credited LTC Gorham and his Paratroopers with much of Operation Husky's success: "Most of the combat success of the regiment in Sicily was due to Art and the men of his command." He was killed in action in Sicily leading an attack on a German panzer column near Pointe Dirillo.
In May of this year, the 1/505 honored LTC Gorham's memory and a new generation of airborne heroes in a ceremony at Ft. Bragg. The Battalion's new headquarters was named for LTC Gorham and a memorial stone engraved with names of to the members of the Battalion killed in Iraq was unveild. For more about LTC Gorham link here, here for pictures of the dedication and here for a picture of the commemorative plaque. A copy of the COL Clarke's remarks from Sicily is available, click here for press coverage and here for a television news report covering the ceremony.
Ceremony Marks the 65th Anniversary of Operation Husky
On Friday, July 11, 2008 Colonel (Ret) Bruce B.G. Clarke spoke at a ceremony near Gela in Sicily, Italy marking the 65th anniversary of Operation Husky. Operation Husky kicked off the allied invasion of Europe to beat back two evil regimes: Nazism and Facism. COL Clarke is the son of LTC Arthur F. Gorham, commander of the 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. Gorham and his paratroopers speaheaded the invasion. The ceremony is held every year and is coordianted by the officers and sailors of the nearby Naval Computer and Telecommunication Station, Naval Air Station Sigonella. The memorial is maintained by Senor Ventura.
Click above to watch the story on AFN
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