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Catholic D-Day veteran buried at Arlington National Cemetery on 75th anniversary

Catholic News Service

Members of a U.S. Army military honor guard carry the flag-draped casket of Carl Mann Sr., a World War II veteran, June 6, 2019, during his burial at Arlington National Cemetery. BOB ROLLER | CNS

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Fr. Joseph Adams, who holds the rank of captain in the U.S. Army, prays during the burial of the late Carl Mann Sr., a World War II veteran, June 6, 2019, at Arlington National Cemetery. BOB ROLLER | CNS

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Members of a U.S. Army military honor guard remove the flag-draped casket of Carl Mann Sr., a World War II veteran, from the hearse June 6, 2019, during his burial at Arlington National Cemetery. BOB ROLLER | CNS

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ARLINGTON, Va. — As World War II veterans and world leaders
gathered at the American cemetery of Colleville-sur-Mer in Normandy, France, to
commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day June 6, the same day one highly
decorated veteran who took part in that Allied invasion was laid to rest in an
American cemetery half a world away.

At Arlington National Cemetery just outside of Washington, Carl
Mann Sr., a lifelong Catholic from Evansville, Indiana, was buried with full
military honors as his family and friends gathered around. He died March 30 at
age 96. He requested his burial take place at Arlington on the D-Day
anniversary.

As an Army sergeant, Mann was among the troops who stormed Omaha
Beach in Normandy on D-Day June 6, 1944. He was awarded three Purple Hearts and
seven Bronze Stars for his service in the 5th Infantry Division of Gen. George
S. Patton’s 3rd Army. He was involved in all five major battles of the European
Theater.

“While many have served their nation admirably, Sgt. Mann
shed his blood for the freedoms we put so much trust in today,” Father
Joseph Adams, an Army chaplain with the rank of captain, said during the
service. “Therefore, he should forever be revered by his country.”

Son Carl Mann II, who was presented the flag that had draped his
father’s casket, told the Evansville Courier & Press daily newspaper that
Carl Sr. “would be honored, humbled, embarrassed” about all the attention.
“He would really want the discussion to be about those who gave their
lives.”

He added that the funeral “helps us bring closure. Dad
always taught us not so much to move on but move forward.”

Carl Sr., an active member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, now
Annunciation Parish, in Evansville, was born Oct. 24, 1922, in Mount Vernon,
Indiana, to the late Karl J. and Arvilla (Thompson) Mann. In addition to his
parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Dolores (Therrien)
Mann; by a son, Father Gordon Mann, who died Feb. 28, 2019, after a battle with
leukemia; two sisters, Mildred Williams and Helen Roy; and a brother, Robert
Mann.

Father Mann, his middle son, was ordained as a priest on the
anniversary of D-Day in 1992. His final assignment was as parochial vicar of
St. Philip Parish in Mount Vernon.

Besides son Carl and his wife, Merlene, of Newburgh, Indiana,
Carl Sr. is survived by three daughters, Susanne (David) Walters of North Port,
Florida, Michelle (David) Tenbarge of Evansville, and Melanie (Brad) Holmes of
Fort Branch, Indiana; two other sons, Kimberly (Diane) Mann of Worcester,
Massachusetts, and Miles (Andrea) Mann of Evansville; 12 grandchildren; and
several great-grandchildren.

“My brothers and sisters have been aching since dad
passed,” Miles Mann told the Evansville Courier & Press. “It’s
nice to finally lay him here at Arlington and let him go home. The rest of us
can understand it’s time to turn the page.”

 

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