Private Marcel Lanthier

Marcel Lanthier was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to Euclide and Eugenie Lanthier, of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, U.S.A. He enlisted in the 7th Field Battery on 20 April 1942. He was 5’ 10”, 169 lbs, Medium complexion, Grey eyes, Brown hair and with 20/20 vision.

He volunteered for Airborne forces and transferred to 1st Canadian Parachute battalion on 14 July 1942 and attended a parachute training course at Fort Benning, Georgia, USA on 15 May 1942.

Marcel arrived in the UK on 28 July 1943 and took part in Operation Overlord (Normandy).

Private Lanthier and the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion jumped into Normandy on the night of 5/6 June 1944. He was killed in action on 9 June 1944, aged 21, and was given a field burial on the east side of the road to La Hogue, on top of verge and was re-interred to Ranville War Cemetery, Calvados, France, on 17 August 1945.

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