The Airborne Beer Story
Jonn posted this some time ago, so for the new folks, and those who like a good story even if its not the first time you’ve seen it, here’s The Airborne Beer Story. A bit late for Veterans Day, but I don’t think Vince would mind.
WW II Veteran Stories – Vince Speranza
World War Two veteran Vince Speranza tells the Airborne Beer story that occurred while he was serving in the 101st Airborne Division at the Battle of the Bulge. The 101st Airborne was cutoff from the rest of the Army and was holding out in Bastogne when Vince was sent back to try and find some radio batteries for his company. As you see, he got a little sidetracked on his mission as he stopped to visit a wounded friend.
Category: War Stories
Good God that was entertaining.
“Giving aid and comfort to the wounded” he tells the regimental sergeant major with a helmet full of Belgian beer during the middle of the siege of Bastogne. No wonder he’s so famous, the kid had stones. 🙂
I hope I’m that animated and full of life in my 80’s!
Regimental surgeon, a major.
That does make more sense now that I re-listen to it. Either way, it takes a pair of clankers.
It’s a little spendy, but it’s available online. I’m gonna have to raise one for PVT Speranza! He’s earned it.
https://store.belgianshop.com/recherche?controller=search&s=airborne
Must have!
Outstanding! Thanks for the link!
Here is a US based online source in Cleveland, OH.
They don’t have the Blond, though.
Those of us who have had the honor to serve, all have our own stories to tell or share.
But, by far the best stories that I have ever heard or read, are those of our elder brothers-in-arms from WWII.
Thank you Private Vince Speranza.
That put a smile on this old Airborne face…
I was just in Bastogne (and much of Belgium) over the weekend traveling through Battle of the Bulge sites. Many of the restaurants in the town sell airborne beer. The place caters to the battlefield tourism crowd but not so blatantly as Normandy.
Thanks for this post AW1Ed, it was good to revisit Vince and this story. Thanks, also, to Skyjumper and the picture of young Vince and to SFC D for the spendy linky. May have to put the crowbar in my wallet, pry some $ out and get me some.
If my Dad had of lived past 1 Apr 63 he would have been Vince’s age. Maybe at that point in time he would have opened up on his WWII time. He never said a whole lot at all about it to us young ones. I didn’t understand it at the time. I do now and have for a good long while.
But what about the batteries? That is one hell of buddy to do that much footwork to bring you a cold one, in a combat zone, under horrible conditions!
Vince is a fine story teller. Thanks for sharing his story.
Just a note or two of interest concerning Vince Speranza.
Unfortunately, Vince passed away in October 2017, but he did manage to make one last jump (tandem) in 2016 at the age of 91 years.
Awesome video!!
Now that was cool as hell Skyjumper. Thanks for posting and a big kudos to the folks that made this jump happen.
Damn, that looks like fun!
How do you adjust for airspeed and descent rate just prior to touchdown? I presume that parachutes will stall just like any other airfoil.
Is it possible to do a loop, in free fall, or is it more of a somersault/tumbling event?
Thanks Skyjumper, the guy was all heart. Fair winds and following seas, Private Speranza.
(Singing) Beer! Beer! Beer! Said the Private….
… merry men are we!
Theirs none so fair and can compare,
With the Airborne Infantry!
Ol’ King Cole was a merry ol’ soul,
And a merry ol’ soul was he.
He called for his pipe, called for his bowl,
Called for his (fill in rank) three.
I used to sing this cadence at Caserma Ederle, Vicenza, Italy.
Oops … that would be, “there’s none so fair …”
Too cool! Final jump at 91!
We should all live so long and so well. Catch the wind, Mr. Speranza!