Bernard Cheney served with one of the most historic units of World War II.  He was a member of Headquarters of the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion.  This unit is the only unit in US Army history to attempt a battalion sized jump from gliders while in training in North Carolina.  They began WWII in Panama searching for U-boat bases.  Soon after they were crossing the pond and were force to put in at Oman, Africa due to German dive bombers.  From there it was on to Naples where they were heading to Anzio, then re-routed to Sicily via train to set up an Airborne school.  By 10 JUL they were encamped at Ciampano/Lido de Roma airfield just outside of Rome and became part of the First Airborne Task Force.  They jumped on 15AUG1944' in broad daylight behind enemy lines.  The citizens of France in the vicinity witnessed a thousand chutes of retribution falling from the sky; however, for the Germans it was an omen.  It was the first daylight battalion sized daylight combat drop in US Army history.  Within three days they had taken Draguignan and captured the first German General of WWII, General Bieringer.  One General had voluntarily surrendered pior and another was KIA.  Form there they fought throuch Cannes and was the first into Nice, FR.  The spent more continuous days on the front lines than any other Airborne unit during WWII in the Maritime Alps of France.  Actually only other unit (airborne or otherwise) served longer continuous duty and that was only by one day.  The 551st was then sent North and were soon gearing up for the Battle of the Bulge.  They spearheaded the northern counter offensive with the 505th to their right and the 517th to their left.  They pressed ahead of their flanking units and found themselves in the middle of two German machine gun posts, a couple of German tanks joined in too as the 551st was decimated, but not defeated.  Soon after this they performed one of only two documented bayonet charges of WWII, more like something from the Civil War, not WWII.  With only about 300 men of over 700 remaining the 551st were charged with taking a small and well fortified German position in a small town over looking an open field of fire.  Against all odds the 551st too Rochelinval too, along with over 500 prisoners.  At this point only 110 remained...they paid a heavy price at Rochelinval.  Their CO was killed, LCOL Joerg and the 551st was sent to Juslenville where they were disbanded.  Their records were destroyed and they were forgotten for the most part.  A unit that should been one of the most decorated units of WWII has only one folder of record space at the national archives that is less than an inch thick.  To Bernard L. Cheney, Hq, 551st Parachute Infantry Battlalion...SALUTE!!!   My grandfather was member of Hq too, Leslie I. Meade.  He also went on to the 505th and occupied Berlin alongside of this HERO...and is the reason I joined the military myself.  Visit 'Friends of the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion' where many family members are active, along with Richard Field (Bravo Co. actual).  I also created my own page 'To the memory of the men of the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion.'