ABOUT THE FILM

THE STORY

D-Day: Down to Earth—Return of the 507th recounts the history of the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment through remarkable battles in World War II and the inspiring culmination of its story 60 years later.

Seven paratroopers of the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment pose with the regimental mascot "Geronimo" prior to a paratroop training exercise in 1943.
(Courtesy of Carson Smith)
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The 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment was part of an elite fighting force activated during the war: the Airborne paratroopers. Men from the 507th dropped into Normandy on D-Day and fought with distinction in several crucial engagements including battles at Graignes, Chef-Du-Pont and La Fière. Noted military historian S.L.A. Marshall called the battle at La Fière "probably the bloodiest small-unit struggle in the experience of American arms."

In the ensuing year, the 507th fought through bitter cold in the Battle of the Bulge and participated in the largest airborne assault of the war—Operation Varsity.

After the war, the regiment was quietly disbanded. Its accomplishments were nearly forgotten until the summer of 2002, when surviving members of the 507th returned to Normandy to take part in a moving series of events that gave completion to their story.

In D-Day: Down to Earth, the 507th's history is told primarily by veterans in their own words. Martin K.A. Morgan, author and research historian from the National D-Day Museum, provides historical context and insight into the accomplishments of the regiment. It is an engaging and heartfelt story of citizen soldiers motivated to reconnect for one final mission: to honor their fallen brothers and establish a legacy for future generations.