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Paratroopers Clash Over Flag in Normandy Town
Paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division removed a 101st Airborne Division flag in Sainte-Mère-Église, rekindling a historic rivalry over D-Day territorial claims.
BASTOGNE, BELGIUM 12.13.2019 Photo by Maj. Vonnie Wright 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs
Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division stirred controversy in Sainte-Mère-Église, Normandy, by removing a flag of the 101st Airborne Division from a prominent spot in the town square, sparking tensions rooted in their D-Day history. The incident, captured on video, reflects a longstanding rivalry between the two divisions over territorial pride in liberated Normandy locations.
The dispute unfolded when an 82nd paratrooper scaled the Stop Bar in Sainte-Mère-Église, a traditional gathering place for the division's veterans and troops during D-Day anniversaries. The 101st Airborne Division's flag, which had flown over the bar during recent ceremonies, was deemed inappropriate by the 82nd, who assert their historical precedence in the town's liberation.
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According to an eyewitness account from an 82nd paratrooper present at the scene, the removal of the 101st flag was a culmination of years of discontent over what they perceive as the 101st's unwarranted claim to Sainte-Mère-Église. The town holds significant historical significance for the 82nd, marked by intense combat and iconic events such as the landing of Pvt. John Steele on the church roof during D-Day.
"We have mentioned in past anniversaries our desire to remove that flag because Sainte-Mère-Église belongs to the 82nd," the paratrooper stated. “This year, we finally acted on those sentiments.”
The rivalry traces back to World War II when both divisions were crucial in the airborne operations on D-Day, with the 82nd focusing on Sainte-Mère-Église and the 101st securing areas nearby. Despite the removal of the 101st flag, tensions persisted as a French flag mysteriously appeared in its place the following day, leading to speculation about local involvement.
"It seems a French resistance group or local individuals may have replaced one of our flags with theirs overnight," the paratrooper remarked. The incident underscores ongoing sentiments of territorial pride and commemoration among the American paratroopers in Normandy.
The clash highlights the enduring legacy of the D-Day operations and the emotional attachments soldiers maintain to the liberated towns, reflecting their ongoing reverence and disputes over historical symbols and commemorative spaces.
