World War II Honoree

John C. Hess

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Lemmon, South Dakota

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE U.S. ARMY ON FEBRUARY 6, 1942 AT FORT SNELLING, MINNESOTA. AFTER BASIC TRAINING, HE WAS ATTACHED TO A FIELD ARTILLERY UNIT. HE DEPARTED THE U.S. ON FEBRUARY 20, 1944 ARRIVING IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER MARCH 1, 1944. HE ENGAGED THE ENEMY IN THE NORMANDY CAMPAIGN WHERE HE WAS SEVERELY WOUNDED ON JULY 11, 1944. HE WOULD SPEND THE REST OF HIS TIME IN THE SERVICE IN HOSPITALS. HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM THE PERCY JONES HOSPITAL CENTER, FORT CUSTER, MICHIGAN ON DECEMBER 13, 1945. HE WAS ENTITLED TO WEAR THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL, AMERICAN THEATER RIBBON, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AND EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN RIBBON WITH ONE BRONZE CAMPAIGN STAR.