“When we jumped…all you saw was red, green, blue, and purple, this was flack shooting at you… it was so powerful, the explosions…some planes got hit and when I jumped out, my chute opened, and a plane was coming right at me.”
United States Army, 101st Airborne, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion Veteran, Staff Sergeant Anton Matthew Zanzinger
The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program is honored to announce the June 2020 story of the month has been selected to recognize the service of United States Army, 101st Airborne, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion Veteran, Staff Sergeant Anton Matthew Zanzinger. The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program was privileged to interview Staff Sergeant Tony Zanzinger in the fall of 2015 at his home in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Anton Matthew Zanzinger was drafted into the United States Army in 1940. At the time, the United States Government had ordered a compulsory draft as war clouds loomed on the horizon. After signing up in Philadelphia, he was sent to Camp Wolters Texas for basic training. He shared, "We had good training in Texas and all of sudden, they say, if anyone wants to become a Paratrooper... put your name down... I qualified to get in." He spoke of the extensive process to qualify to be considered to become a Paratrooper. After being inducted, Staff Sergeant Zanzinger was sent to Camp Mackall in North Carolina for extensive physical and mental training. Upon arriving he was assigned under the command of Colonel Howard Ravenscroft Johnson. The rigorous process was furthered by Colonel Johnsons determination to prepare his men for anything. Zanzinger was inspired by Colonel Johnsons belief that his troops, “had to be better than better.”
Upon meeting all expectations and requirements at Camp Mackall, Zanzinger was sent to Fort Benning for the next phase of Airborne Training. At Fort Benning, Zanzinger earned his jump wings and officially became a member of the 101st Airborne, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion. The intensive training process instilled lasting life lessons that would echo on the battlefield in Europe and throughout his life. As the war in the Atlantic and Pacific raged, Zanzinger spent a short time at home before being ordered to Europe with his regiment. He shared, “we were sent to Massachusetts…and boarded a ship that was part of a convoy of 25 ships...halfway across the ocean…we got hit by a torpedo…and fortunately the thing did not explode.” After an eventful voyage across the Atlantic and being attacked by a German U Boat, the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion began final training exercises as they prepared to liberate Europe from Nazi Germany.
After participating in numerous maneuvers in England, Zanzinger recalled, “a week before D-Day, they told us what was going to happen, and they gave us an objective.” All of the training, field exercises, lessons, and maneuvers, would be put to the test. When the orders were issued and objectives reviewed, Zanzinger and the members of the101st Airborne, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, boarded C-47 transport planes which were bound for Normandy France. He spoke vividly of the sights and sounds flying over the English Channel and being fired upon over France.
“When we were flying, it was 10 O’clock at night…we hit the Channel, we could see thousands of ships, those guys are going to go in the morning... when we jumped…all you saw was red, green, blue, and purple, this was flack shooting at you… it was so powerful, the explosions…some planes got hit and when I jumped out, my chute opened, and a plane was coming right at me.” Zanzinger safely landed and moved quickly to join up with fellow paratroopers and work to complete his objectives. He shared intricate details about his experiences in Normandy, the push through France, Operation Market 
Garden, the defense of Batstone, and bringing the war to German soil. After the war, Staff Sergeant Tony Zanzinger would continue to serve his country by speaking to thousands of students and sharing his war experiences. His words would bring the past to life and ensured that the memory and sacrifice of the greatest generation is never forgotten and honored by a grateful nation.
The United States Navy Memorial honors United States Army, 101st Airborne, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion Veteran, Staff Sergeant Tony Zanzinger, featured within this series titled, Tales from the Navy Log, Story of the Month. Each month, this series honors a Veteran’s story recorded by the Stories of Service Program at the Navy Memorial.
To learn more about this story and to explore the Navy Memorial archive, visit the Navy Memorial Stories of Service site at http://navylog.navymemorial.org/stories-of-service.
Interview of Tony Zanzinger Part One Receiving His Draft Notice, Basic Training at Camp Wolters Texas, and Joining the Paratroopers
Interview of Tony Zanzinger Part Two Reporting to Camp Mackall and Memories of Colonel Johnson
Interview of Tony Zanzinger Part Three Reporting to Fort Benning and Becoming a Paratrooper
Interview of Tony Zanzinger Part Four Crossing the Atlantic and Coming Under Attack by U Boats
Interview of Tony Zanzinger Part Five Arriving in England and First Memories of the D-Day Invasion
Interview of Tony Zanzinger Part Six Flying Over the English Channel and Landing in Normandy for the D-Day Invasion
Interview of Tony Zanzinger Part Seven Taking a German Machine Gun Nest at Normandy on D Plus One and Securing Objectives