"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. Your Tom," an excerpt from a letter that was written by 1st Lt. Thomas Meehan III, company commander of E Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Air Assault. The hands of a wristwatch forever stopped at 1:12 on the morning of June 5, 1944 were lost to the fields outside of Beuzeville Au Plain, 56 years later they were recovered. A year later, in 2001, a monument was unveiled to memorialize the crew and paratroopers; closing a chapter of an unfinished story for the family, friends, loved ones and comrades of the men who lost their lives during Operation Overload. The C-47 carrying Meehan was hit with anti-aircraft fire, and caught fire near the rear of the plane. As the fire traveled forward to the cockpit, the paratroopers aboard were unable to jump because the plane's altitude was too low for the parachutes to open. All were lost in the crash. Today, June 3, 2015, Soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) attend a ceremony to remember those men and their actions on that fateful day. Over 380 service members from Europe and affiliated D-Day historical units are participating in the 71st anniversary as part of JTF D-Day 71. The Task Force, based in Saint Mere Eglise, France, is supporting local events across Normandy, June 2-8, 2015, to commemorate the selfless actions by all the allies on D-Day that continue to resonate 71 years later. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Saska Ball, USACAPOC(A) PAO) Unit: U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) DVIDS Tags: Marine; Soldier; 82nd Airborne Division; AFN; USAFE; 82nd; France; NAVEUR; Honor; USACAPOC; 4th Infantry Division; Band of Brothers; Normandy; Rangers; re-enactment; Sacrifice; SOCEUR; Jumpmaster; 101st; Sky Soldiers; 75th Ranger Regiment; U.S. Army Europe; Armed Forces Network; 1st ID; 82nd Airborne; Public Affairs; 25th; WWII; EUCOM; Jump Wings; Community Relations; Combat Camera; World War II; Infantry; U.S. Marines; paratrooper; Airborne; All American; Amphibious assault; 1st Infantry Division; 21st Theater Sustainment Command; U.S. Air Forces in Europe; Omaha Beach; 4th ID; 29th Infantry Division; 173rd; Utah Beach; Screaming Eagles; D-Day; Iron Mike; Greatest Generation; 101st Air Assault; European Command; 982nd COMCAM; Airborne Operation; U.S. Army Soldier; St. Mere Eglise; AFN-E; Operation Overlord; La Cambe; Re-enactors; American Cemetery; C47; Carentan; Cherbourg; Dutch Marines; 29th ID; Special Operations Command Europe; 4/25th; Foreign Wings; Task Force Normandy; 173rd Infantry Brigade; Community Engagement; U.S. Army Civil Affairs & Psychological Operations Command (Airborne); U.S. Army Europe Band; 1-507th PIR; NATO Alliance; Higgins Boat; Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial; Task Force Normandy 71; Joint Task Force D-Day 71; D-Day 71; Point Du Hoc; 101st (AASLT); La Fierre; USEREUR; 6 June 1944; Juno Beach; Foreign Jump; Dutch Sailors; 409th Combat Service Support Brigade; Naval Forces in Europe; 4/25th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) 4/25; 1/75 Rangers; 1-507th Parachute Infantry Regiment; dday71