SAINTE-MARTIN-DE-VARREVILLE, FRANCE — On June 5, 2025, just hours before the 81st anniversary of the D-Day invasion, a group of American veterans and international parachutists leapt into the skies over Normandy in tribute to the unsung heroes who paved the way for freedom in Europe: the volunteer Pathfinders of the 101st Airborne Division.

The commemorative static line parachute jump was held near Sainte-Martin-de-Varreville — one of the key drop zones used during Operation Overlord. It was here, on the night of June 5, 1944, that elite Pathfinder teams jumped ahead of the main airborne assault to mark landing zones for thousands of Allied paratroopers.

A Mission Revisited

The original Pathfinder jump occurred at 2215 hours on June 5, 1944 — hours before the main airborne assault. These elite volunteers navigated flak, poor visibility, and enemy patrols to mark landing zones with visual signals and Eureka beacons, enabling thousands of follow-on paratroopers to land with precision inland from Utah Beach.

To honor their sacrifice and daring mission, Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Allen West and Major (Ret.) Jean Clark completed a static line jump using MC1-1C round canopy parachutes, a modern version of the WWII-era equipment. The jump was executed from a combat veteran C-47 Skytrain, similar to the aircraft used in the original D-Day drops.

The event was organized by the Round Canopy Parachute Team USA & Europe (RCPTUSA.org & RCPT.eu), a nonprofit international organization dedicated to preserving the airborne legacy of WWII. Veteran Jumpmasters Bill Markham and Frank Cashman supervised the operation and oversaw all safety measures.

“The courage of the Pathfinders laid the groundwork for the liberation of Europe,” said LTC (Ret.) Allen West. “It’s our duty to carry that legacy forward — not just in ceremony, but in principle.”

“Jumping onto this soil, under a round canopy, wearing the same gear as those men — it’s more than a tribute,” said Maj. (Ret.) Jean Clark. “It’s a living act of remembrance.”

Adding to the emotional weight of the event, a 97-year-old World War II veteran performed a tandem parachute jump with Jumpmaster Bill Markham — symbolizing a living connection between past and present generations of airborne warriors.

“For LTC West and MAJ Clark, this is a long-term goal and a heartfelt mission accomplished.” — Round Canopy Parachute Team

While no formal wreath-laying ceremony took place, the reenactment served as a vivid living memorial to the precision, courage, and sacrifice of the 101st Airborne Pathfinders — the first Americans to set foot behind enemy lines in Nazi-occupied France.

The jumpers’ descent through Normandy skies carried not just men and parachutes — but legacy, reverence, and a solemn promise: We remember.

About the Author

Major (Ret.) Jean Clark is a U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force veteran and an active member of the American Legion China Post 1, Department of France, as well as the Round Canopy Parachute Team USA.
Clark began his military career as an enlisted paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, serving with C Company, 2/325 Airborne Infantry Regiment and B Battery, 1/320 Field Artillery. He later commissioned as an Air Defense Artillery officer before transitioning to the Military Police Corps. After leaving the Army, he received a direct commission into the U.S. Air Force, where he served as a Security Forces Operations Officer.