June 6, 2026
First Sergeant Leonard A. Funk Jr.
United States Army
508th Parachute Infantry Regiment
82nd Airborne Division
World War II
Leonard A Funk Jr
Why Leonard Funk?
Many D-Day heroes are remembered for what they did on June 6th.
Leonard Funk distinguished himself on D-Day and throughout the European campaign, but what makes him special is that he represented the airborne soldier at his absolute finest:
- Normandy
- Holland
- Battle of the Bulge
- Germany
He fought across virtually every major campaign in Northwestern Europe.
The Night Before D-Day
On the evening of June 5, 1944, Funk boarded a C-47 transport aircraft with thousands of other paratroopers preparing for the largest airborne assault in history.
Shortly after midnight, he jumped into the darkness over Normandy.
Like many airborne troops, he landed scattered from his unit, behind enemy lines, and immediately began fighting.
Courage Through Europe
For nearly a year he fought continuously through:
- Normandy
- Operation Market Garden
- Ardennes Campaign
- Germany
By 1945, he had become one of the most respected noncommissioned officers in the 82nd Airborne.
A Remarkable Capture
In January 1945, near Bonn, Germany, Funk single-handedly captured a large group of German soldiers while under enemy fire.
His leadership and fearlessness earned him the:
Medal of Honor
Reflection
Freedom did not arrive on the beaches alone.
It arrived from the skies.
It arrived through the courage of men who jumped into darkness and fought their way across Europe.
First Sergeant Leonard Funk Jr. was one of those men.
Decorations
- Medal of Honor
- Silver Star
- Bronze Star
- Purple Heart
Final Resting Place
First Sergeant Leonard A. Funk Jr. rests with honor at Arlington National Cemetery.
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