Jumping Into Holland With The 101st

Ed Hallo grew up in a family of Syrian immigrants in Toledo, Ohio, with his three sisters and a brother. As a young man, he worked as an usher in a movie theater. During World War II, he enlisted and volunteered for the Airborne, joining the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment at Camp Toccoa, Georgia. In 1943, he deployed to England, where he met his future wife, Sylvia. He broke his leg during training for the jump into Normandy, but later jumped into Holland during operation Market Garden. He participated in the Battle of the Bulge, and recounts capturing Germans during that fight. Later, he crossed the Oder and participated in the occupation of Berchtesgaden. After the war, he brought his wife to America, and her mother later immigrated under the Displaced Persons Act. After being demobilized, he worked for Ford. In this interview, he talks about his childhood, and enlisting during World War II. He describes his training, and meeting his wife in England. He discusses his combat jump into Holland and his subsequent operations. Finally, he recalls bringing his wife and her mother to America after the war.