World War II Honoree

George Harper Colinan, Sr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Saylesville, Rhode Island

Honored By

David Colinan

Relationship

Son

AT THE ARMY’S REQUEST, IN AUGUST 1942 MAJOR COLINAN VOLUNTEERED TO CREATE THE 448TH SIGNAL CONSTRUCTION (HEAVY) BATTALION. AFTER A YEAR’S TRAINING THE 448TH EMBARKED FROM BOSTON ON DECEMBER 5TH 1943 ABOARD THE FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE ARRIVING IN GLASGOW SCOTLAND ON DECEMBER 15TH. ADDITIONAL TRAINING CONTINUED IN SOUTHERN ENGLAND UP UNTIL D-DAY. AS PART OF PATTON’S 3RD ARMY, THE 448TH WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 9TH ARMY AIR FORCE, XIX TACTICAL AIR COMMAND (TAC) AND TOOK PART IN THE NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, CENTRAL EUROPE AND ARDENNES (BATTLE OF THE BULGE) CAMPAIGNS. AFTER FIGHTING FROM D-DAY TO FEBRUARY 2,1945 MAJOR COLINAN DIED AT CHALONS SUR MARNE, FRANCE JUST DAYS BEFORE HIS SCHEDULED ROTATION BACK TO THE STATES. HE WAS LATER BURIED AT THE USMC, EPINAL,FRANCE.