Name:
John Larkin Ponder
Rank:
Private
Serial Number:
39233735
Unit:
507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne
Date of Death:
1944-06-06
State:
Arkansas
Cemetery:
Oak Grove Cemetery, Searcy, Arkansas
Plot:
Section 1
Row:
Grave:
Decoration:
Purple Heart
Comments:
Pvt John Larkin Ponder, paratrooper of the 507th PIR/82nd AD, took off from Barkston Heath, Lincolnshire, UK in order to drop over the Amfreville sector. However, coming over the Cherbourg peninsula, the plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire, injuring Pvt Stout, who later died in the crash. The plane lost its formation in the overcast, dipping down to 700 feet to drop the 18 unwounded paratroopers, after which it turned back to England. Ponder died later that died in Caen.