Menze, Vernon J, born 10-09-1924, Ottertail, Otter Tail County, Minnesota USA 
the firstborn son of Walt and Ann Menze. Vernon lived in Minnesota for many years. Vernon lived in Minnesota for many years. He joined the US Army in 1943 and was a paratrooper as a private with the 506th Airborne Regiment “Easy Company” 
under command of Lieutenant General Robert Frederick “Bounding Bob” Sink 
of the 101st Airborne Division. 
under command of Major General Maxwell Davenport Taylor 
who served overseas. Mernze took part in the initial invasion of France in June of 1944, D-Day 
. His last furlough in Ottertail, Minnesota, was in August of 1943. Relatives recall his sense of foreboding about returning to Europe after his furlough. Vernoin was then called on to take part in the paratroopers’ invasion and liberation of my hometown Eindhoven, 
Holland. Vernon had a buddy who described each of them as being on the quiet side, and so they gravitated towards each other. 17-09-1944, was a beautiful Sunday and they jumped into a huge flat field near Son, Holland. They took Eindhoven the next day, much to the joy of the Dutch people. On the 19th, Vernon and his buddy shared supper with a Dutch family, 
but didn’t stay long because they were expecting to be moved out against the Germans. As it turned out, the Germans had lain in wait for the Allies to approach. The Germans had up to 2500 men and numerous Panzer tanks 
.On the 20th of September, the Allies mounted British tanks and rumbled north towards Nuenen, a small town between Son and Eindhoven, Holland.
Death and burial grounf of Vernon J. Menze.
Vernon is in the top row, 5th from left in this picture.In Eindhoven there is a memorial inscribed with the names of the 22 brave young men of the 506th Regiment who lost their lives in and around Eindhoven from Sept 18 -20 1944.
As the columns of infantry and tanks entered Nuenen, 
they were ambushed from well dug-in positions and were quickly run over. The Allies beat a hasty retreat but took a beating. As many as 800 soldiers were killed that day, Vernon was among them, and dying just 10 days past his 20th birthday.
Vernon’s sister, Joyce, was married to Ted Brown who had a cousin that happened to be a medic in the 101st Airborne Division “Easy Company” with Vernon. Ted was the one who recovered Vernon’s body from the battle site. Vernon was found shot behind a barn in Nuenen. Vernon’s parents received word of his death on October 10 at their home in California. According to Vernon’s request, his brother, Harold, left Minnesota to go to his parents’ home during that difficult time. According to the Fergus Falls Daily Journal: “Vernon 
leaves numerous relatives and friends in Ottertail who are deeply grieved by his death. He was a fine, outstanding young man, highly regarded in the community.” His grave in Holland was carefully taken care of by a Dutch family until his parents relocated him to the Golden Gate cemetery in San Bruno, California, in 1949. The movie “Band of Brothers” was based on Vernon’s unit and lists his name at the end of the movie. Bio is courtesy of cousins, Steven Menze and Cindy Menze Gregorius.————-May 28-05-2009: Hello Cindy, I hope you are doing well. My name is Derek Olson. History in general and especially WWII history has been a passion of mine to learn about. We really owe so much to those who served our country during that time and beyond. I never tire of hearing their stories or reading about their actions in books, there is so much to learn from them and that time.This Memorial Day I visited Fort Snelling 
cemetery here in the cities and that really puts everything into perspective.Operation Market Garden, the liberation of Holland is an area of study in which I have ben especially drawn to – especially the exploits of the 101st Airborne there. Your story and photo you have posted of your uncle Vernon Menze are so poignant and remarkable – I had seen the page on findagrave before but just today saw all the things you had added to it and was speechless – thanks so much for sharing his story.You are probably fully aware of this already, but Vernon was a member of the 2nd Platoon in Easy Company, under the command of Lieutenant Lynn “Buck” Compton 
(wounded that same day on Sept 20 in Nuenen), There is another man inscribed on that plate – Captain John W. Kiley 
which I have studied in depth as I actually have the helmet he wore in battle in Holland. Recently I was able to speak with the man who served right along side him in Nomandy and Holland and was at his Captain’s side when he was killed, really a powerful and humbling experience. They were close friends.
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