A celebrated American military division whose members flew into Normandy on D-Day to confront the troops of Nazi Germany, has denounced a Nazi protester photographed in Charlottesville, wearing a cap bearing its insignia.
One of the many images from the violence in Virginia that went viral was of a middle-aged man wearing camouflage trousers and a grey T-shirt, and making a Nazi salute. He was also wearing a cap that bore the insignia of the 82nd Airborne Division.
Over the weekend, Brandon Friedman, a former Obama administration official, tweeted the image and wrote: “Would *LOVE* to know the name of Mr 82nd Airborne Division here rendering Hitler’s Nazi salute. The 82nd jumped into Normandy on D-Day.”
The elite airborne infantry division, which is based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, fought in both the first and second world wars. Its members were among those who air-dropped into France in the summer of 1944 as Allied forces sought to retake Europe.
After Mr Friedman’s tweet was widely shared and viewed, the 82nd Airborne Division’s delivered a series of pointed tweets. They were first reported by the Huffington Post.
“Our WWII Airborne forefathers jumped into Europe to defeat Nazism. We know who we are. We know our legacy,” said one.
Another read: “U really think that guy is an active member of the 82nd just because he has that hat? My mom has that same hat. She’s 78 & has never served.”
It added: “Respectfully, anyone who thinks this man represents our culture and values has never worn the maroon beret...and never will.”
A 32-year-old woman, Heather Heyer, during the clashes after a car was allegedly driven into her and up to 20 other people were injured. A 20-year-old man has been charged with her murder.
