World War II Honoree

Marvin Cicero Hardy

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Mobile, Alabama

Honored By

Dean M. Starovasnik

Relationship

Son-in-law

HE VOLUNTEERED, HAVING BEEN A SHIPYARD WELDER IN MOBILE, AS THE WAR STARTED. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 2ND INFANTRY DIVISION, 9TH REGIMENT. HE ENTERED THE WAR WHEN HIS REGIMENT WENT ASHORE AT D-DAY PLUS 1. HE WAS WOUNDED IN FRANCE BY A MORTAR ROUND, WHICH KILLED HIS BUDDY NEXT TO HIM. UPON RECOVERY, HE REJOINED HIS UNIT AND FOUGHT ACROSS EUROPE, INCLUDING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE AT HEARTBREAK CROSSROADS. HIS UNIT WAS AMONG THE FIRST TO BREECH THE SIEGFRIED LINE. HE LED A PATROL THROUGH THE INITIAL BARBED WIRE BARRIERS TO INFILTRATE THE FIRST PILL BOXES TO BE ATTACKED, FOR WHICH HE RECEIVED THE BRONZE STAR. HIS UNIT FOUGHT ALL THE WAY TO CZECHOSLOVAKIA. UPON RETURNING TO THE U.S., THEY BEGAN TO TRAIN FOR REDEPLOYMENT TO THE PACIFIC. HE MARRIED BEFORE THEY LEFT. V-J DAY INTERRUPTED THE REMAINING TRAINING AND HE WAS DISCHARGED SOON THEREAFTER.