Ted Gach, a paratrooper in the D-Day invasion, will be honored as the Veteran of the Game tonight as the Los Angeles Dodgers begin a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium.
Gach, a Los Angeles resident who was a U.S. Army private first class during World War II, was also a demolition expert with the 82nd Airborne
Division. He also made jumps in Italy and the Netherlands and fought in Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge and in Germany.
Gach’s accolades include the Purple Heart, and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with a bronze arrowhead.
Billy Ashley, a Dodger outfielder from 1992-97, will sign autographs in the right field pavilion plaza from 5-7 p.m., the same time Al Downing will be signing autographs in the left field pavilion plaza.
Downing pitched for the Dodgers from 1971-77 and was selected by The Sporting News as the National League Comeback Player of the Year in 1971 when he was 20-9, a year after going 5-13 when he split the season between Oakland and Milwaukee.
A fireworks show celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month will immediately follow the game but is subject to cancellation if the game lasts too long.
All auto gates will open at 4:30 p.m. and all stadium gates at 5 pm for the 7:10 pm game.
Pre-game ceremonies set to begin at 6:55 pm, first pitch at 7:10 pm.
