Cory Mills joined lawmakers in D-Day plane jump, honoring constituent
NORMANDY, Fr. – U.S. Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., joined nine other veteran congressmen on Thursday in jumping out of a World War II-era plane in Normandy to honor the 80th anniversary of the battle.
Mills specifically dedicated the jump to a World War II veteran in his district, Peter Arthur Durante.
“Cory thinks its important to honor the strength and sacrifice of our troops who served in WWII and those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation and the world,” Mill’s office said in a statement.
The lawmakers specifically jumped out of a Douglas C-47 Skytrain, the plane that many Allied airborne would have jumped out of on Jun. 6, 1944.
Durante, who recently celebrated his 100th birthday, served in the Navy Seabees during the war, being stationed in New Guinea and the Philippines.
“Peter Arthur Durante is an American hero, not only to his family but also to Florida’s 7th Congressional District and the entire nation,” the office said.
The Seabees were created in response to the need for a militarized Naval construction force that could build advanced bases in warzones. Overall, they built over 400 bases across the world which significantly helped bring victory to the allies.
The other representatives who participated in the jump included U.S. Reps. Jason Crow, D-Colo., Mike Waltz, R-Fla., Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, Darrell Issa, R-Calif., Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., Rich McCormick, R-Ga., Keith Self, R-Texas, and House Homeland Security Chair Mark Green, R-Tenn.
