World War II Honoree

Russell John Werle

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Belleville, Illinois

Honored By

Tom Lyons

Relationship

Friend

STAFF SERGEANT, COMPANY L, 8TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 4TH DIVISION. SENT TO ENGLAND IN EARLY 1944 AND LANDED IN FRANCE THREE WEEKS AFTER D-DAY. SAW COMBAT IN THE FRENCH HEDGEROWS, ULTIMATELY PARTICIPATING IN THE LIBERATION OF PARIS. PUSHING ON INTO GERMANY, HE WAS WOUNDED IN COMBAT AND EVACUATED TO A HOSPITAL IN BELGIUM. THE HOSPITAL WAS HIT BY A 'BUZZ BOMB' AND HE WAS SENT TO ENGLAND TO RECOVER. UPON RECOVERY, HE WAS SENT BACK TO HIS COMPANY WHICH WAS IN COMBAT ON THE FRONT LINES IN GERMANY. HE RECEIVED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL. DISCHARGED 1/14/46.