Remembering the Sacrifice of Virginia Tech Alumni on D-Day

Every year when school starts back, we eagerly await the arrival of over 360 first years from Virginia Tech’s Corps of Cadets for their annual visit. It is always exciting to watch the next generation of servicemen and women learn about the valor, fidelity and sacrifice of those who served before them—especially considering the Virginia Tech and D-Day connection.

Virginia Tech (VT) was established in 1872 with agricultural and military training central to its mission. During World War II, not only did students serve but the campus was transformed into an active-duty military installation. In all, more than 7,000 VT alumni served in WWII, of whom 323 died in service to their country.

One of our Bedford Boys and D-Day fatalities, John Schenk, was a Business Administration major at Virginia Tech. You can read more about John’s experience here. Throughout the first month or so of the invasion, VT lost 20 alumni in and around Normandy. There is a plaque just outside of the Memorial’s Gray Plaza that memorializes VT’s contribution to the D-Day Invasion.

Today, the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets’ mission is to nurture and create great leaders ready to pursue military careers or to enter the public and private sectors after graduation. This summer, many of the cadets went to Normandy and learned first-hand about the sacrifices made by those whose footsteps they are following. Read about their trip to Normandy here.

Thankfully, it was a mild morning for the 360 or so first year cadets to rotate through seven different stations at the Memorial. Many of our volunteers, and even one of our World War II veterans, come out year after year to lead a station and share about the valor, fidelity, and sacrifice of those who stormed the beaches on June 6, 1944 because it is inspiring to see young men and women who understand the importance of service to their country.

Check out the following news stories to hear more about the visit from the cadets themselves:

http://wsls.com/2016/09/05/virginia-tech-cadets-use-experiences-overseas-to-teach-others-about-d-day/

http://www.wdbj7.com/content/news/Virginia-Tech-Cadets-share-Normandy-experience-392357591.html

http://www.virginiafirst.com/news/local-news/virginia-tech-cadets-visit-the-national-d-day-memorial

Until Next Time,

Maggie

D-Day Fallen: John Schenk

Hello Friends!

As I am sure you have noticed, fall does not necessarily mean that the National D-Day Memorial is not busy with events and school groups. However, we are starting to slow down a bit and are getting excited for one of our favorite events of the year, Flames of Memory and Christmas in Wartime Presentation.

National D-Day Memorial's Flames of Memory and
Christmas in Wartime Presentation

During this event, thousands of luminaries are arranged throughout the Memorial and shine in recognition of Overlord’s fallen and in tribute to the ultimate sacrifice each one of them made to relight the lamp of freedom. This event is not only beautiful, but is such a vivid reminder of the sacrifice of the men on the beaches of Normandy. As twilight deepens and obscures the Blue Ridge, the Memorial will honor the 4,413 men killed on D-Day the nights of December 11-13, 2015 from 6PM-9PM. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated.

Luminaries are sold throughout the year and can be purchased in honor of or in memory of a loved one that has served or who is currently serving. Each luminary costs $20, or six for $100, and they can be purchased in honor or memory of anyone who has served in the U.S. Armed Forces, D-Day veteran or not. All proceeds benefit the Memorial and are tax-deductible. Also, group sales are available. If you are interested in purchasing a luminary, visit www.dday.org and click on “GIVING” or  call (540) 586-3329 for more information.

We would also like to extend a very special thanks to the Virginia Moose Association for supporting this worthy endeavor.

One thing we like to do each year leading up to Flames of Memory is to recognize a few of our D-Day fallen in our blog posts.  Today, I want to recognize one of our own from Bedford.

John Burwell Schenk was born in September 1916 in Bedford. He was a student in Business Administration at Virginia Tech and joined the Virginia National Guard on February 3, 1941.

One of my favorite things about John was his relationship with Ivylyn. In 1941, John was set up by a friend on a blind date with Ivylyn Jordan that lasted late into the night. They continued to date after the war began and eventually were married when he was on leave from Camp Blanding, Florida. After he deployed to England to prepare for D-Day, John and Ivylyn wrote letters to each other every day when Schenk was in England.

Just before the Normandy invasion, Ivylyn wrote a letter to John on May 21, 1944. Below is a portion of that letter:

“Although I haven’t written [recently] my heart has been filled with thoughts for and about you. Your letters are so full of hope and brightness for the future. Several have come this week written May 7, 8, 10, and 11^th. They have been like sunbeams on long winter days…”

In their letters, not only did they discuss their love for one another, they talked about the daily events of their lives. After over twenty months of being apart due to the war, the war did not allow them to make it to their two year wedding anniversary.

As a part of the 29th Division, 116th Regiment, Company A, Ssgt. John Schenk landed in the first wave of the assault on Omaha Beach with other young soldiers from Bedford, Virginia. Their objective was to get up to the high-water mark and off the beach. However, many did not make it. John was one of those men who died due to heavy fire as they reached the shore.

On July 17, 1944, his parents received news from the War Department that John was killed in action in France on June 6, 1944. Although the news was not what Ivylyn expected, she lived her life like John would’ve liked for her to as she carried on his memory even though she remarried. He is buried at the American Cemetery at Normandy.

Until Next Time,

Maggie

Cadets Visit the Memorial

 

VMI cadets learning about the importance of D-Day.

Good afternoon!  Sorry that I have been absent this last week but we have been very busy at the National D-Day Memorial preparing for a few big events.  On September 14 and 15 we hosted the cadets from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) and the Virginia Military Institute, respectively.  It was an incredible sight as 330 V. Tech cadets and 500 VMI cadets moved around the Memorial learning about the valor, fidelity, and sacrifice made by our servicemen and women on D-Day.  Special thanks goes out to all the volunteers who participated in this event.  I would also like to thank Jennifer and Nicole for the photographs of cadets used above.  For more photographs, please visit our Facebook page!  

V. Tech cadets listening to a WWII veteran.

Each of these schools are represented with plaques at the Memorial, and servicemen from each school and of all rank were responsible for the success of D-Day. 

General Leonard Gerow

One well-known VMI graduate involved in the Normandy invasion was General Leonard T. Gerow.  Gerow graduated from VMI in 1911 as an honors graduate.  He received his commission in the regular army as a second lieutenant of infantry.  In 1942, Gerow assumed command of the 29th Infantry Division.  In October, his division deployed to England as part of the buildup of the US forces.  In July 1943 he assumed command of V Corps, then the highest US field command in England.  Major Gerow wanted to prove that his troops, largely made up of National Guard outfits, could be made just as tough and battle-ready as any others in the US Army.  He was very aware of how some of his fellow generals belittle the National Guard troops under his command.  He tended to work his men twice as hard.  In large part, due to his tough training regime, the 29th had trained longer and harder than any other American division.  Gerow commanded V Corps during the Normandy landings, the breakout across Paris, and the penetration of the Siegfried line.  The V Corps suffered over 2,400 dead, wounded and missing.