Memorial

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Lt Kenneth N. Okeson was a civil engineer for the Sahara Coal Company in Harrisburg.

Statement from 1st Lt Judson Ball, pilot of another airplane in the same squadron:
"I was flying on the right wing of type C-47A aircraft #42-100555, in mission 'Market A-76', 19 September 1944. About eight miles before we reached the LZ, I noticed tracers coming up and at this time ship #42-100555 began burning between the right engine and the fuselage. I called the pilot and informed him he was on fire, however he continued to fly toward the LZ. Upon reaching the LZ, his glider released and the ship made a left turn at the same altitude and I made a right turn and did not see ship #42-100555 again. I believe the crew members of above mentioned ship had a good chance of either landing or jumping as the fire had not grown any longer during the whole time and both engines seemed to be operating quite efficiently."

Two crew members were killed: Capt Stevenson and Lt Okeson, and were initially buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery of Son, the Netherlands. The other three crew members bailed out short of the drop eone and were captured.

Members of the 436th Troop Carrier Group, to which they belonged, told a crew member after he returned that Capt Stevenson had bailed out over the drop zone, but fell out of his parachute because his leg straps were not fastened, that some paratroopers reached Capt Stevenson before he died, and that he told them his group and mission.