John W. Marr D-Day Oral History (1 of 3)

Colonel John Marr was born in Johnson County Missouri in May 1918. He was drafted into the Army and entered service in June 1941. When he became aware of a new, specialized unit, the paratroops, which would give him twice his monthly pay, Marr decided to join up. After earning his jump wings he went to Officers Candidate School where he became a Lieutenant. He was assigned to Company G of the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment and on June 6th, 1944 he was dropped behind the enemy lines with the 82nd Airborne Division. Lt. Marr saw action almost immediately after landing near Ste.-Mère-Église where he was involved in what is seen as the costliest small-unit action in United States Army history, at the Battle of the La Fière Causeway.

After his fighting in Normandy, Marr was put in command of Company B of the 507th during the Battle of the Bulge and continued to lead the company as it was the spearhead for Operation Varsity, the crossing of the Rhine River, on March 24, 1945. He returned to the US in September 1945 and continued his career in the Army, earning his Army Aviator wings and eventually commanding the 17th Combat Aviation Group in Vietnam and earning a Distinguished Flying Cross. Marr retired with the rank of Colonel in January 1974 after more than 32 years of service to his country.

Marr will accompany The National World War II Museum's travel group to Normandy for the 65th anniversary of D-Day.

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