Private Reinhold “Ron” W Bonnell 

Reinhold "Ron” William Bonnell was born on May 20th, 1923 in Michigan and died in the fight during the taking of the Hill 30, in Normandy, June 15th, 1944.

He is the son of William Bonnel, farmer and who participated in the World War I and of Lois I Bonnell.

The family account 3 children; Ron had 2 sisters, Adeline and Helene.

Reinhold Bonnell was drafted on February 10th, 1943.

He went volunteered for the paratrooper troops.

He was incorporated within the B Company of the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment.

Ron was the great friend of Howard Huebner. He met in a bus stop. Here is the story which tells Howard on Ron's last hours:

"In the United States Army as a paratrooper stationed in Alliance, Nebraska with the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, I spent two weeks in the Black Hills in South Dakota near Deadwood. When we returned to the camp we were all given a two week permission in October of 1943."

"I lived in Saginaw Michigan. I took the train from Nebraska to Detroit, Michigan. While I was waiting for a bus to Saginaw, I met another paratrooper, Reinold Bonnell from Hemlock, Michigan."

"We traveled home together and had some good times during our stay. Unfortunately we had to return the 15th of October, which is the opening day of the pheasant season in Michigan. Well, Ron and I opened the season on the 14th. We only took two birds apiece, the limit."

"When we got back to camp Alliance, Nebraska, we were told to pack our gear and get ready to move out. It took several weeks then we headed for New York. I managed to see New York from the Empire State Building. We had to take the ferry across the Hudson River. One of our buddies lived in the Bronx where we spent time."

"While going across the Atlantic, my friend Ron or Red as we called him, told me his girlfriend gave him a wrist watch and that if he got killed and I found him, I should take it, and if I lived to send it back to her. We landed in Ireland and we were stationed at Port Rush, Ireland. We spent Christmas there. I cut a branch off a tree and hung tin foil from cigarette packages on it and tin cans, you name it. It didn’t look too bad, but it was Christmas."

"When we left Ireland, we went to Nottingham, England, where we trained and stayed until D-Day June 6, 1944. It was a day we all looked forward to for because we knew we were there for a reason, and that is what we trained for. We both made the jump but I didn’t see Ron until the 15th of June, a day I will never forget."

"When I got back to the company, they told me to go over to B Company and to take over the machine gun. I said Ron was their machine gunner, why can’t he? ( I was machine gunner also) I was from Co C going into Co B."

"When I got there, they set the machine gun outside of this German dug foxhole, approximately eight foot long and four foot deep. Ron was in one corner, a piece of shrapnel had hit him in the face and tore it open from skull to his throat. I tried to take the watch off but I couldn’t. I crossed his arms and said God bless you.”

Ron Bonnel is buried somewhere in Michigan.