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20 from 82nd Airborne history named to new All American Hall of Fame

The 82nd Airborne Division on Thursday announced the inaugural class of the All American Hall of Fame. The class will be inducted May 23 at Fort Bragg's Hall of Heroes during All American Week.

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All American Week
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — The 82nd Airborne Division on Thursday announced the inaugural class of the All American Hall of Fame. The class will be inducted May 23 at Fort Bragg’s Hall of Heroes during All American Week.

Honorees were nominated by subordinate units of the 82nd, and the field was narrowed down by a board of senior leaders within the division.

Inductees were selected based on their service within the division, their lifelong commitment to the division’s values, and either valorous combat action or their contributions to their chosen field outside of the division. Nominees must have either been awarded the Medal of Honor or served a minimum of two years within the division. While nominees may still be serving in the Army, they must no longer be eligible for service within the division and must be five years removed from last service in the division.

"The All American Hall of Fame is about preserving our legacy and paying homage to our All American Legends,” said Major General Erik Kurilla, commander of the 82nd Airborne Division. “This is important to our culture and to who we are as an organization so we knew we had to get these first selection right.”

Beginning in 2019, the All American Hall of Fame will enshrine up to five new members each year during All American Week.

"The 82nd Airborne Division is an iconic institution, and when you are talking about 101 years, 17 campaign streamers and valorous combat action from Meuse-Argonne to Mosul, you are talking about an awful lot of legendary figures,” said Lieutenant Colonel Joe Buccino, spokesman for the 82nd Airborne Division. “This is immortalization within the 82nd Airborne Division, and we know that not everyone that is worthy is going to make it this year,” Buccino continued.

The inaugural class of the All American Hall of Fame consists of the following:

General (Retired) John F. Campbell (born: April 11, 1957) Throughout a remarkably impactful military career, General Campbell served in a variety of assignments within the 82nd Airborne Division, to include company command and Division Operations Officer. His time in the Division culminated with his command of 1st Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division during a combat deployment to Afghanistan. He would go on to serve as Vice Chief of Staff of the Army and commander of all forces in Afghanistan.
Staff Sergeant Félix Modesto Conde Falcón (February 28, 1938 – April 4, 1969) The Division's only Medal of Honor recipient from the Vietnam War, Felix was killed while leading his ambushed platoon to destroy multiple enemy bunkers. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President Obama in 2014.
Private First Class Charles N. DeGlopper (November 30, 1921 – June 9, 1944) Charles was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions and sacrifice of life during the early stages of the Battle of Normandy in World War II. He was killed while firing from an exposed position to allow his outmanned platoon to withdraw from contact.
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General (Retired) Ann E. Dunwoody (born: January 14, 1953) was the first female battalion commander within the 82nd Airborne Division and the first female four-star General in American history. She served as Division Parachute Officer during the Division's deployment to Operation Desert Shield / Desert Storm. She would lead a remarkably successful military career outside of the Division.
First Sergeant Leonard A. Funk, Jr. (August 27, 1916 – November 20, 1992) Leonard was a Medal of Honor recipient and one of the most decorated Paratroopers of World War II. He jumped into Normandy on D-Day, earned the Distinguished Service Cross for action during Operation Market Garden and earned the Medal of Honor for remarkable actions while leading a platoon of clerks to capture an entire German garrison town during the Battle of Bulge.
Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Retired) William (Joe) Gainey (born: May 27, 1956) Command Sergeant Major Gainey served multiple tours within the Division, to include serving as a platoon sergeant during Operation Desert Storm. He would go on to serve as the first Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Private Joe Gandara (April 25, 1924 – June 9, 1944) A recipient of the Medal of Honor and an original World War II Paratrooper, Joe Gandara was killed while saving his detachment from enemy fire in Amfreville, France three days after D-Day. Four decades after his death, President Obama presented his Family with the Medal of Honor. 3
Lieutenant General (Retired) James Gavin (March 22, 1907 – February 23, 1990) The only American General to make all four World War II combat jumps, Jim Gavin commanded the Division’s 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment during the first part of the war and then commanded the Division during Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge.
Old photo of 82nd Airborne Division
Command Sergeant Major (Retired) Tadeusz “Ted” Gaweda (born: October 20, 1933) A Polish-born immigrant liberated from a Nazi labor camp by American GIs, Ted serve as an All American Paratrooper for 18 years, deploying with the Division to combat operations in the Dominican Republic and Grenada and serving twice as the Command Sergeant Major of our 3rd Brigade Combat Team.
Captain (Retired) Roy Hanna (born: February 17, 1917) Roy Hanna was an original World War II Paratrooper who commanded Company G, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment. During the war, he earned the Distinguished Service Cross, the Italian Service Cross, and the Purple Heart for valorous combat action during the battle of Anzio.
General (Retired) Daniel K. McNeill (born: July 23, 1946) General McNeill commanded at the company, battalion, and division with the 82nd Airborne Division. As the Division G-3, he jumped into Panama during Operation Just Cause. He would also command US Army Forces Command and served as the commander of all forces in Afghanistan.
Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) James “Maggie” Megellas (born: March 11, 1917) James Megellas, a World War II Paratrooper, is the most decorated officer in the Division, who jumped into the Netherlands during Operation Market Garden. He is a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, and two Purple Hearts
Command Sergeant Major (Retired) Kenneth “Rock” Merritt (born: August 27, 1922) A D-Day Paratrooper who jumped into Normandy on D Day and the Netherlands during Operation Market Garden, Rock was awarded the Silver Star by General Matthew Ridgway. He would go on to serve twice as the Command Sergeant Major of 18th Airborne Corps.
Lieutenant Colonel Emory Jenison Pike (December 18, 1876 – September 16, 1918) Lt. Colonel Pike was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at Vandieres France during World War I. He is the first Medal of Honor recipient in Division history and the namesake of Fort Bragg’s Pike Field.
General (Retired) Matthew Bunker Ridgway (March 3, 1895 – July 2, 1993) General Ridgway transitioned the Division to its Airborne configuration in 1942 and led the Division into World War II. He is among the most revered figures in World War II history as well as a critical figure in America’s post-World War II military development.
General (Retired) Roscoe Robinson, Jr. (October 11, 1928 – July 22, 1993) General Robinson was the first African-American commander of the 82nd Airborne Division and would go on to become the first African-American four star general in Army history. He was a remarkably impactful leader, both in the Division and in the Army.

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