Warren Shook
Here is Warren Shook!! Humanitarian, friend, and unbelievable witness to history!!! Warren was a paratrooper with the 101st 502nd PIR I company in WW II. He was in the first three planes that flew over DDAY on the Eurpean Continent. He was in the left C-47 in the FIRST wave!!! His aircraft was hit and the aircrew were killed. They jumped at 300 feet at over 225mph as the a/c began to crash!!!! Warren went through a small tree as his parachute opened. He landed flat on his back and bounced a time or two!!! The mines strapped to his shins and canteen were ripped from his body in the ensuing violent landing. Upon landing, he saw tracers flashing 8 inches in front of his face. He took out the machine gun nest moments later and continued fighting. On June 11th they came to Carentan. Warren single-handedly wiped out two German companies with his trusty Thompson under the direction of Lt. Col. Robert Cole and was later wounded on Purple Heart Lane. He was placed on a sretcher and fell asleep. He awoke at a hospital in Great Britain!!! He estimates he had one hour sleep in the five days prior to his injury!!!! After healing he rejoined his troops and saw Marketgarden, survived the Battle of the Bulge at Bastogne, and overran concentration camps. He finally wound up at the Eagle's Nest and searching for SS troops hidng in the woods. If you have seen Band of Brothers, then you have witnessed through film what Warren actually experienced!! After Carentan, Cole literally walked Warren directly up to Ike and personally recommended him for the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions!!! Cole won it for Carentan after he was killed in Holland. Warren may be the most decorated soldier in NC or the whole Southeast!!! He is nothing short of awesome and is a national treasure. Nowadays at age 85, he takes care of 70 something people in Lenoir. If you see this man grace our facility, PLEASE talk to him and let him know you appreciate him. He was a Special Forces machine and expert on all of their weapons. It is a miracle he is still here to share his amazing story with us. The amazing thing is his humility which most warriors share that have been at the VERY TIP OF THE SPEAR!!! I can only imagine all of the things this man has seen!!! Ever wonder why we are the greatest nation ever? Look in his eyes in this photograph and you'll see it!!!!!!!
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