Thomas Meehan III

Infobox Military Person
name=Thomas Meehan III
born= birth date|1921|7|8
died= death date and age|1944|6|6|1921|7|8
placeofbirth=
placeofdeath= Normandy, France
caption=
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch= United States Army
serviceyears= 1942-1944
rank= First Lieutenant
commands=
unit=Company E, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division
battles=
awards=World War II Victory Medal Purple Heart
relations=
laterwork=

Thomas Meehan III was an officer in the United States Army during World War II who commanded Company "E" of the 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. After serving in Company "B" of that regiment after arriving in the United Kingdom, First Lieutenant Meehan transferred to Company "E" (Easy Company) to replace Captain Herbert Sobel, who had been transferred to command a parachute training school for non-combat officers.

On June 6, 1944, Meehan was killed when the C-47 Skytrain transport aircraft he was a passenger in was hit by German anti-aircraft fire during the Normandy invasion. The plane crashed near the village of Beuzeville-au-Plain (approximately 2 miles northeast of the town of Sainte-Mère-Église), killing the crew and the paratroopers aboard, including the entire company headquarters group of Company "E".

Before takeoff on D-Day, Meehan wrote a letter and handed it out the door of the C-47 to be sent to his wife:

"

Dearest Anne:

""

In a few hours I'm going to take the best company of men in the world into France. We'll give the bastards hell. Strangely, I'm not particularly scared. But in my heart is a terrific longing to hold you in my arms. I love you Sweetheart - forever. Tom

"

Meehan's remains were returned to the United States in 1952 [ [http://www.506infantry.org/Memorial/personal/tmeehan.htm Currahee Memorial Personal Remembrance - 1st Lt Thomas Meehan III] ] , and are now buried at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery (Plot 84 0 25-31), located just south of St. Louis, Missouri. He shares a mass grave with the C-47 aircrew and fellow paratroopers of that flight. [ [http://www.interment.net/data/us/mo/stlouis/jeffbarr/m/jeffbarr_m17.htm Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery - Surnames M - St. Louis, Missouri]

On June 6, 2000, a memorial was dedicated in the Beuzeville-au-Plain church to Meehan and the other men that were killed when the plane was shot down. [http://www.101airborneww2.com/Beuzplaque.jpg]

Thomas Meehan is portrayed by actor Jason O'Mara in the TV series Band of Brothers.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.506pireasyco.com/Thomas%20Meehan.htm Thomas Meehan III - www.506pireasyco.com]