World War II Honoree

Norman Lee Alloway

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Edna, Kansas

Honored By

Linda Herold

Relationship

Daughter

AWARDED THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN RIBBON, BRONZE STAR, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, EXPERT RIFLEMAN, 2 CROSS RIFLES, HONORARY SERVICE RIBBON, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, FREEDOM MEDAL AND POW BADGE. TRAINED AT FT. LEONARDWOOD, MISSOURI, CAMP ROBINSON, ARKANSAS, AND FT. BENNING, GEORGIA. AFTER CROSSING THE ATLANTIC, LANDED AT CASABLANCA, NORTH AFRICA. TRAINED IN NAPLES, ITALY WITH THE 3RD PLATOON, COMPANY A. HE WAS A PLATOON LEADER IN THE 1ST RANGER BATTALION THAT WAS FIRST FORMED IN SCOTLAND AND WERE BATTLE-HARDENED. MAJOR DOBSON AND COLONEL DARBY LED THE 1ST, 2ND, 3RD, AND 4TH BATTALIONS. THEY LANDED ON ANZIO BEACH, ITALY, ON JANUARY 20. 1944. A WEEK LATER, THE 3RD BATTALION WAS CAPTURED SIX MILES BEHIND THE GERMAN LINES. THE SS RAN HIS FIRST POW CAMP. THEY WALKED AND RODE BY CATTLE CARS THROUGH THE AUSTRIAN ALPS TO 'MOOSEBURG'. SPENT MOST OF HIS TIME IN OFLAG 64 NEAR SHUBIN, POLAND. GERMANS MOVED THE OFFICERS BACK FARTHER FROM THE ACTION ON THE GERMAN AUTOBAHN. WHEN HIS PREVIOUSLY INJURED KNEE GAVE OUT, HE WAS LOADED ONTO ANOTHER RAILCAR TO GO TO STALAG 3A NEAR LUCKENWADE, GERMANY, SOUTHWEST OF BERLIN. AS SOON AS THE RUSSIAN TANKS RELEASED THE PRISONERS,THEY STARTED TO FIND THEIR WAY BACK TO THE AMERICAN LINES THEMSELVES. WALKED...COMMMANDEERED A COUPLE OF BIKES...EVENTUALLY GOT HOME.