Born: July 21, 1920
Corporal, United States Army Service# 39525302 C CO, 1ST BATTALION,
507TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION “ALL AMERICAN” Date of Enlistment: February 19, 1941
Home or Place of Enlistment: Idaho Falls, Idaho Died: June 7, 1944 Died of Wounds received while conducting combat operations
against Nazi Germany during Operation Overlord. |
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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