Born: September 16, 1922
Corporal, United States Army Service# 19147038 H CO, 3RD BATTALION,
508TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION “ALL AMERICAN” Date of Enlistment: November 2, 1942
Home or Place of Enlistment: Payette, Idaho Died: September 20, 1944 Buried: Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands Killed in Action while conducting combat operations against
Nazi Germany during Operation Market Garden. |
The 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION is awarded the
FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALMawarded under Decision No. 160, 6 April 1946, by the President of the Provisional
Government of the French Republic, with the following citation: A splendid unit, renowned for the gallantry and the spirit of sacrifice of its fighting men. It displayed the finest military qualities during the battle of Normandy. It formed part of the 82d Airborne Division and occupied central road points and river communications commanding the access to the landing beaches of the Cotentin. It sacrificed itself on the banks of the Merderet and the Douve, at Saint Sauveur le Vicomte and at Etienneville from 6 to 20 June 1944, in order to stem at all cost the advance of the German reinforcements which far outnumbered them in strength and fire power. It forced the enemy to remain on the defense, thus permitting the arrival of the main Allied force.
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A crack unit that brilliantly distinguished itself during the dropping of the 82d Airborne Division over France in the night 5-6 June 1944. In spite of the stiff resistance of the enemy and its very heavy losses, it managed by its military qualities and the gallantry of its personnel, to occupy the important position of Saint Mere ’Eglise, thus making possible the success of the landing in strength of the Allied liberating troops.
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Considering that the 82d Airborne Division of the United States Army, during the airborne operations and the ensuing fighting actions in the central part of the Netherlands in the period from 17 September to 4 October 1944, excelled in performing the tasks allotted to it, with tact, coupled with superior gallantry, self-sacrifice and loyalty; considering also, that the actions of the aforesaid division took place in the area of Nijmegen; have approved and ordered. 1. To decree that the divisional colors of the 82d Airborne Division of the United States Army shall be decorated with the Military Order of William, degree of the knight of the fourth class; 2. To authorize the division to carry in its divisional colors, the name of the town of NIJMEGEN 1944.
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