The U.S. Military Academy hosted the Greater Hartford Chapter of the 82nd Airborne Division Association to honor Lt. Gen. James “Jumpin’ Jim” Gavin ’29 on the 79th anniversary of the D-Day invasion at the West Point Cemetery on June 6, 2023.
The ceremony included dozens of paratroopers from the 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment who are stationed at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, who are currently the task force supporting West Point’s Cadet Summer Training. The 82nd Abn. Div. Task Force command team led by Lt. Col. David Yu ’05 and Command Sgt. Maj. Benjamin Boyce, along with Jeremiah Cain of the Greater Hartford Chapter of the 82nd Abn. Div., placed a wreath at Gavin’s grave.
“On behalf of the 82nd Airborne Division, we are proud to honor the memory of Lt. Gen. James M. Gavin, his contributions to the airborne community, and especially his impact on the people of Nijmegen during and after Operation Market Garden,” Yu said. “‘Jumpin’ Jim’ was the only American general officer who made four combat jumps during World War II, and he is an inspiration to all paratroopers.”
