World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Howard B. Cottrell
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Roy, Utah
Honored By
Mrs. Violet H. Cottrell
#01557575. ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT 3RD ARMY. ACTIVE DUTY 1942 TO 1946. ENTERED SERVICE OCTOBER 2, 1942 AT FORT DOUGLAS, UTAH. PRIVATE #3265515, FORT ORD, TO MAY 1943. Officer Candidate School (OCS), ABERDEEN PROVING GROUNDS. COMMISSIONED AUGUST 14, 1943, ASSIGNED TO CAMP GORDON 653RD ORDNANCE. LEFT CAMP GORDON AUGUST 1944 FOR EUROPE. ARRIVED ENGLAND IN SEPTEMBER, THEN TO FRANCE. LANDED ON UTAH BEACH SEPTEMBER 19, 1944. TRANSFERRED TO 54TH ORDNANCE COMPANY. SERVED IN THE LARGEST AMMUNITION DEPOT AND RAILROAD SUPPLY YARDS IN FRANCE. DURING BATTLE OF THE BULGE, IT WAS SET ON FIRE BY GERMANS. RECEIVED MEDALS FOR BRAVERY. HE WAS COMMANDING OFFICER OF 263RD ORDNANCE BATTALION HEADQUARTERS AT THE TIME HE WAS RELEASED TO RETURN HOME, ABOARD THE 'AMERICA', MARCH 1946.