AN American paratrooper who fell to his death at Gordonvale 80 years ago will be remembered at a special ceremony later this month.
Over the weekend of June 24 and 25, Reverend Ian Lindsay of All Saints Anglican Church and the Gordonvale community will be hosting a wreath laying, a book launch and a memorial church service in honour of Private Donald L. Wilson and the Paratrooper Infantry Regiment, 503rd Unit.
Attending will be the niece of the paratrooper – Cathy Mechsner – and her husband Ron, the United States military attaché’ from the US Embassy in Canberra and other invited guests. Rev. Lindsay said everyone would gather to remember and to honour the life and memory of Pte Donald L Wilson and all members of the 503rd parachute regiment.
“The small town of Gordonvale was occupied by hundreds of American paratroopers during December, 1942 until August, 1943,” he said.
“During their posting in Gordonvale, nine members of the 503rd died through accident or mishaps. Sunday, June 25 will mark 80 years to the day when Pte Donald Wilson jumped to his death at Green Hill, Gordonvale.”
Rev. Lindsay said the event was being held after a letter from Mrs Mechsner in December last year. She wrote the letter to thank the church for solving a family mystery.
“On June 25, 1943, our uncle died in a tragic accident during a training jump which American General Douglas McArthur was to attend,” the letter read.
“Unfortunately, and for unknown reasons, our uncle jumped from the plane without either of his parachutes being deployed.
“I learned this information only a few months ago from an online article in the regiment’s heritage website which lists the source as extracts from The Parish Book of All Saints Church, Gordonvale, Queensland, Australia.
“The purpose of this letter is to thank your church for recording this information.
“Without the record, my family and I would not have known what the true nature of our uncle’s passing was.
“Our grandparents and Uncle Donald’s sister and brother, if known, never shared this information.
“We also want to thank the community for the compassion and caring of our uncle for the funeral and his return voyage home.”
The events are:
• Saturday, June 24, at 9am wreath laying at Gordonvale Library and at 10am at Mulgrave Settlers Museum, Gordonvale, the book launch of Parachuting into Love – stories of young women who married 503rd paratroopers 1943-1946.
• Sunday, June 25 at 9am, memorial church service at All Saints Anglican Church.
