World War II Honoree

Herman G. Rapier

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Corbin, Kentucky

Honored By

Jeffrey & Amanda Wedding

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE ON AUGUST 19, 1943 AT FORT THOMAS, KENTUCKY. WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 275TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, PART OF THE 70TH DIVISION, AND COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AT CAMP ADAIR, OREGON. UNDERWENT ADDITIONAL TRAINING AS AN AID MAN AND WAS PROMOTED TO TECHNICIAN 5TH GRADE IN THE 275TH INFANTRY MEDICAL DETACHMENT. THE 70TH DIVISION MOVED FROM CAMP ADAIR TO FORT LEONARD WOOD, MISSOURI, IN JULY 1944 AND CONTINUED PREPARATIONS WITH EXTENSIVE FIELD PROBLEMS AND DETAILED TECHNICAL TRAINING. IN DECEMBER 1944 THE 275TH, TOGETHER WITH THE 274TH AND 276TH INFANTRIES COMPOSED TASK FORCE HERON AND SAILED ABOARD TRANSPORTS FROM BOSTON TO THE EASTERN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. ARRIVING IN FRANCE, THE 275TH WAS QUICKLY MOVED INTO THE FRONT LINES TAKING PART IN THE ARDENNES-ALSACE AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. AS A MEDICAL AID MAN DURING THIS TIME HE ADMINISTERED FIRST AID WHILE UNDER ENEMY FIRE, AND PREPARED WOUNDED MEN FOR TRANSPORT AND DELIVERY TO BATTALION AID STATIONS, EARNING THE COMBAT MEDICAL BADGE. HE WAS ALSO AUTHORIZED THE ARMY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL (WITH TWO BRONZE SERVICE STARS), WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND ARMY WWII OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH GERMANY CLASP. HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED AT CAMP ATTERBURY, INDIANA ON FEBRUARY 25, 1946.