Tod Sweeney; Led British Glider Assault on D-day
Tod Sweeney, 82, a British commander in a key glider assault behind enemy lines during the Allies’ D-day landings in World War II , died June 4 near London.
Sweeney, who retired as a colonel, was a platoon commander in the daring operation that led to the capture of two vital bridges in Normandy during the early hours of D-day, June 6, 1944. He was awarded the Military Cross, given for gallant and distinguished service in battle, after rescuing his severely wounded corporal amid mortar and machine-gun fire near Escouville.
A military career of more than 30 years began when he was drafted into the Pay Corps during World War II. In 1942, he joined the 2nd Airlanding Battalion, which would be reformed as a glider battalion the following year.
After the war he remained in the British armed forces, traveling abroad to fight in conflicts in Cyprus, Brunei and Indonesia.
He served as defense advisor to Britain’s United Nations mission from 1966 to 1969, and retired in 1974 as deputy commander at Britain’s School of Infantry.
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