World War II Honoree

Charles Matthew Cox

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Belton, South Carolina

Honored By

Shirley Grant

Relationship

Daughter

TRAINED AT FORT MCCLELLAN, ALABAMA. JUNE 1944, SENT OVERSEAS AND ATTACHED TO THE 30TH INFANTRY DIVISION, 119TH UNIT, COMPANY L. LEFT NEW YORK HARBOR ON THE HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH. ARRIVED AT ENGLISH CHANNEL, THEN ON TO LE HAVRE, FRANCE IN DECEMBER 1944. FOUGHT IN BATTLE OF THE BULGE AS REPLACEMENT. UPON GERMANY'S RETREAT, THE 30TH INFANTRY DIVISION WAS TEAMED UP AND ATTACHED TO 2ND ARMY DIVISION. CROSSED RHINE RIVER AND SPEARHEADED THE NEXT BATTLE AT THE ROER RIVER. CROSSED ELBE RIVER ON APRIL 12, 1945 AND WAS CAPTURED THREE DAYS LATER. DISCHARGED DECEMBER 17, 1946 AT FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA. ENDED MILITARY CAREER AS SERGEANT TECHNICIAN 3RD GRADE. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART, PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL, HONORABLE SERVICE LABEL BUTTON, BRONZE STAR, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL AND COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE.