Baker Company honors area 101st veteran

This past Sunday was a very special day for those of us in our World War II reenacting organization. We played host to 101st Airborne veteran Elijah Whytsell and members of his family at the MAPS Air Museum to honor Mr. Whytsell’s service and present him with a token of our gratitude; a certificate of thanks and a reproduction WWII paratrooper jump jacket featuring his awards and honors, as well as his rank of Technical Corporal. Elijah also got the opportunity to go on board the museum’s C-47 troop transport. The last time he saw the inside of this type of aircraft, he was jumping out of it over Holland in 1944 during Operation Market Garden. A tour of the rest of the museum and lunch followed.

As an area resident on the roster of 101st Airborne veterans from World War II, members of our organization’s Veterans Affairs Committee (including Derrick Kulscar, Jared Shiele, and Victor Cabrera) reached out to Elijah and his family last year in order to see if they could be of assistance in any way. Fast friendships ensued and Elijah was eager to share stories from his life and his time in the service.

Elijah Whytsell had been part of Easy Company, 506th PIR, 101st Airborne Division which has now been made famous in the book and HBO mini-series “Band of Brothers”. Elijah’s stories and observations of the various officers and men were amazingly recognizable to anyone who is familiar with “Band of Brothers”, and his experiences before and after the war paints a picture of an individual who has lived a full life. His two siblings also served during the war and brother Victor (who had been in the Navy aboard the USS Wright in the South Pacific) was on hand yesterday for the ceremony.

Thanks go out to our own Derrick Kulscar for putting this event together and Mark Gaynor for getting the paratrooper jacket produced. Thanks to our members and the members of the 82nd Airborne, 90th Infantry Division, and 4th Infantry Division reenactor units who helped put together the funding for the jacket. Thank you to all of the members of our unit who participated as well as Lt. Brooks from the 325th GIR of the 82nd Airborne who participated yesterday. Last but not least, thank you to Kim Kovesci and the MAPS Air Museum for having us at their amazing facility.