In Memory of a Hero

Our beloved Colonel Del Townsend, President of the 17th Airborne Association, passed away today at 4:58 PM Eastern Time, 26 January 2010. He was in his 89th year. Peter Schleck and Rose Friday were present at his departure, Colonel Kormann and Isaac Epps were en route to the hospital. Del was recuperating in peace at the hospital, and he shall now remain at peace for all his Eternity. Dear God, We, the 17th Airborne society, grieves for our great loss.

I got this in an e-mail from my sister about Col. Delbert "Del" Townsend, a highly respected member of the 17th Airborne community and hero from WWII (as both a Glider rider and a Paratrooper) to Vietnam, serving proudly and bravely in the US Army, eventually holding the rank of Colonel.

I have actually written to the Colonel through e-mail about my own grampa who served in the 17th Airborne, Col. Towsend was more than happy to help me in my research of the Airborne and of my Grampa's service in WWII. And on Tuesday we lost another WWII vet and an American hero! I will never forget Col. Townsend and his generosity towards me and my family, God Bless his family!