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After a spell with the 102nd Infantry Division, John Perozzi volunteered for the Airborne, qualifying as a paratrooper in October 1943.

Perozzi parachuted into on the western end of the invasion area, landing near to the town of . Perozzi’s 2nd Battalion were expected to take the small village of Neuville-au-Plain just north of the town, but were diverted to fight for – a key communication centre.

After some hard fighting, Perozzi moved north to Neuville where another company of the 2nd Battalion were battling to hold off a German counter-attack despite being massively outmanned.

Although the Germans ultimately advanced, the 505th’s brave attempts to hold them off helped troops further south to maintain control of and prevented additional German troops from reaching the beaches.