World War II Honoree

A. Paul Naney

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Flora, Illinois

Honored By

Robert M. Gatewood

Relationship

Friend

UPON GRADUATION FROM WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SCHOOL, COMMISSIONED BY THE MEDICAL CORPS. CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY ON DECEMBER 31, 1943 AT CARLISLE BARRACKS, PENNSYLVANIA. TRANSFERRED TO O'RILEY GENERAL HOSPITAL AT SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI. ASSIGNED FOR TRAINING TO THE 97TH INFANTRY DIVISION AT FORT LEONARD WOOD, MISSOURI. JOINED THE 250TH ENGINEER COMBAT BATTALION AT CAMP MCCOY, WISCONSIN. SHIPPED TO THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS IN THE FALL OF 1944 WITH HIS UNIT WHICH WAS DIRECTLY ASSIGNED TO 9TH ARMY HEADQUARTERS. SERVED AS A FIELD BATTALION SURGEON AS THE ARMY CAMPAIGNED THROUGH NORTHERN FRANCE, THE RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE AS FAR AS AUSTRIA BY MAY 1945. THE ENGINEERS OF THE 250TH BUILT MANY PERMANENT BRIDGES OVER THE RUHR AND RHINE RIVERS. ONE BRIDGE WITH A WATER GAP OF 1,839 FEET WAS COMPLETED IN ONLY 18 DAYS. AFTER V-E DAY, THE 250TH BEGAN A REDEPLOYMENT TOWARD THE CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATER, BUT WAS DIVERTED BACK TO VIENNA AS PART OF THE ARMY OF OCCUPATION (GERMANY). RETURNED HOME IN MAY 1946. REVERTED TO THE INACTIVE RESERVES, SPECIALIZED IN CARDIOLOGY AND SERVED HIS COMMUNITY AS A PHYSICIAN WELL INTO HIS LATE '70'S.