Press Release - Etheridge Introduces Legislation Honoring Father of the Airborne

News Release
Congressman Bob Etheridge
North Carolina

July 1, 2004

Contact: Sara Lang
Phone: (202) 225-4531

Etheridge Introduces Legislation Honoring Father of the Airborne

DUNN, N.C. - U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-Lillington) announced legislation today to re-name the Dunn Post Office the "General William Carey Lee Post Office," in honor of a Dunn native and the Father of the Airborne. As the nation pauses this year to honor its World War II veterans and to mark the 60th Anniversary of D-Day, Etheridge and members of the Dunn community honored the architect of the World War II airborne forces.

"This small-town boy became a big-time leader and hero," Etheridge said. "General William Carey Lee embodies the North Carolina values that we hold dear, a can-do spirit, courage, conviction, faith and love of family. His contributions to our nation and the world are immeasurable, and it is my great honor to recognize him in this way."

William Carey Lee was born in Dunn on March 12, 1895 and served in Europe during World War I. In the 1930s he saw firsthand the innovations the Germans were making with parachute and glider troops and returned stateside to develop a test platoon of paratroopers. By the end of 1942, this group had become the Airborne Command headquartered at Fort Bragg, and the 82nd and the 101st airborne divisions had been formed. Major General Lee was the first commanding general of the new 101st Airborne.

After a year of rigorous training, General Lee and his paratroopers departed for England to fight in World War II. Just as the Division was making its final preparations for the invasion of Normandy, General Lee suffered a stroke that forced him to step down from his command. On D-Day the men of the 101st Airborne Division yelled "Bill Lee" as they jumped from their planes and into combat as a tribute to their former commander. The courage of Lee's men is legendary, and they have been immortalized as the "Band of Brothers" in the bestselling book by Stephen Ambrose and the HBO miniseries.