By STU CLAMPITT
news@readthereporter.com
On Tuesday morning, only hours from the moment 79 years ago when American paratroopers were jumping from the C-47A named “That’s All … Brother,” The Reporter was among those flying in that same aircraft, sitting in the same seats as those soldiers, hearing the same engine sounds they did.
On that flight there was a man names Mark Zunk, whom The Reporter found holding the wings that belonged to his uncle, Harry Brown, PFC, 501st Parachute Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. Brown was one of the men who did not come home from D-Day.
“His plane went down on the way in,” Zunk told The Reporter. “He didn’t come home. His personal effects came home.”
Brown’s U.S. Army 101st Airborne Wing pin was among those effects.
“He had three sisters and no brothers,” Zunk said. “My mother had his wings years ago. She gave them to me and said, ‘I’m giving these to you because you’re the one who will remember.’”
Zunk did remember, and when he learned the lead aircraft from D-Day was coming to the Indianapolis area, he knew what he had to do.
“I saw they were coming to Indy. I said, ‘wow,’” Zunk said. “And when I saw it was going to be June 6th, I said, ‘this is a sign.’”
Zunk lives in Indianapolis, as did his uncle.
“My uncle also was from Indy, attended Washington High School, and was an all-city football player,” Zunk said. “Now he’s buried in Calvary Cemetery. His parents had his remains brought home when the time came to close the American Cemetery in Normandy, where the government said, ‘We’re not going to remove any more remains. This is the time if you want them.’ His parents had his remains brought home.”
Zunk told The Reporter this flight was something he felt he needed to do.
“It was something I wanted to do for him, and it just meant a lot,” Zunk said. “It was very emotional.”