The herorick story of Tom Rice.

 On this day 1944, the battle for the Bulge.

The Twilight Years of the Greatest Generation have been upon us. Men like Tom Rice, who passed away last November. 

 

Like Tom Rice, Vince Speranza did not hang up his risers as he got older. Nope, he instead became a legend. Just think, he was just a Private First Class in the United States Army. 

The 101st Airborne Division like Tom, a Screaming Eagle, machine gunner, a paratrooper. 

In times of crisis, Men rise to the occasion. Speranza volunteered to fight, fight for our Freedom. 

Born and raised in Hell's Kitchen, New York, he would have joined at 16 if they'd let him. 

As soon as he was 18, he took that oath, the one I hold so dear. Official date of service November 15th, 1943. After all his training, especially at Ft.

 Benning, Georgia, home of the Infantry, where I was trained, he was assigned to Company H, 3rd Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. Screaming Eagles!

His unit arrived in France, and he would later fight in the "Battle of the Bulge," December 1944.  

He engaged in his first firefight against German forces in freezing temperatures.  That year was the coldest winter in decades. 

 Vincent was a machine gunner during the historic battle, earning him the nickname "Curse and Traverse" Speranza.  

The "Battle of the Bulge" resulted in the highest number of American casualties of any operation during WWII.  

I can name his accolades Infantry Blue Cord, Airborne Wings ( Parachute Badge), Fourragere, Combat Infantryman Badge, 2 Bronze Star Medals, 2 Purple Hearts, Army Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 2 Stars, World War II Victory Medal, French Croix de Guerrre , Legion of Honour, Presidential Unit Citation with Oak leaf cluster, but with all that, his best award was the gift he gave us all. 

His vigor, roughneck personality, that cigar in his hand, singing that song; "Blood on the Risers (Gory Gory What a Helluva Way to Die)"

This last April, Vincent J. Speranza at 98 jumped one more time, just like his fellow Screaming Eagle Tom Rice.

 Their last jump. Our Hero, he ain't gonna jump no more, but he will always be remembered. AIRBORNE.