"Company Photographer", Company D, 511th PIR

Jan 21, 1921, 1922 - Aug 17, 2004 (Age 83) 

Citations: Presidential Unit Citation, Combat Infantryman Badge, World War II Victory Medal, Philippine Presidential Unit Citation Badge, Philippine Liberation Medal with service star, the American Defense Medal, and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three Battle Stars and one Arrowhead

Unit Nickname: "Red"

We all a debt of gratitude of Norman Zadoorian, who took many of the photographs we have today of D Company.

With Red’s presence, everywhere it seems, snapping those pictures at random moments, we are able to capture many pictures showing the daily activities and trials of our 511th Parachute Infantry troopers during World War II, both in the United States and overseas in New Guinea and Leyte.

Red and his wife attended some of the 511th Reunions after the war, and he brought many of his photographs to show to the troopers. The troopers poured over the pictures, at those reunions, spying a familiar face once in awhile, and giving identification to many of the old photographs.

Before his death, Red sent his collection of the old photographs to Wilbur Wilcox, a fellow trooper, and Wilbur spent many evenings beside his fireplace in Missouri, pouring over the faces and places from a time long gone. Sadly, Wilbur did not put names or places on the pictures, and many of those old photographs will remain forever unidentified.

After Wilbur’s death in 2005, his wife, Laurabelle, sent the old photographs on to Lt. Andrew Carrico, because she knew that his wife, Jane was interested in preserving the history of the outfit. She, in turn, passed them over her grandson, author Jeremy C. Holm.

While we have done our best to identify the troopers in these old photographs on this website and in our archives, sadly some remain unnamed and are known only to the Angels. 

 

Pfc. Thomas W. Talbot (L) and Pfc. Norman "Red" Zadoorian (R) on Leyte, 1944 with Japanese battle flag (Photo via Jane Carrico)	L to R: Pfc. Norman "Red" Zadoorian, Pfc. Charles W. Payne and buddies on Leyte, 1944 (photo via Jane Carrico)

If you would  like to learn more about Norm's exploits within and the history of the 511th Parachute Infantry Regiment in World War II, please consider purchasing a copy of the book WHEN ANGEL'S FALL: FROM TOCCOA TO TOKYO, THE 511TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT IN WORLD WAR II, available in the regimental online store, on Amazon or wherever military history books are sold.