World War II Honoree

Richard Awtrey Wilkins, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Austell, Georgia

Honored By

Joseph R. Wilkins

Relationship

Son

SERVED WITH COMPANY K, 290TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 75TH INFANTRY DIVISION; PARTICIPATED IN THE MAJOR CAMPAIGNS OF RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE; PARTICIPATED IN THE ASSAULT CROSSING OF THE RHINE RIVER; PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLES OF DORSTEN, RHINE HERNE CANAL, AND ZWEIG CANAL ACROSS THE RHINE; PARTICIPATED IN THE FIGHTING TO SEVER THE SUPPLY LINES TO DORTMUND AND TO ENCIRCLE THE RUHR INDUSTRIAL REGION; WOUNDED IN ACTION ON APRIL 7, 1945 NEAR FROHLINDE, GERMANY; WOUNDED IN ACTION ON APRIL 10, 1945 NEAR DUREN AND STOCKUM, GERMANY; AFTER RECOVERING FROM SEVERE WOUNDS SERVED WITH THE OCCUPATION FORCES BASED IN FRANKFURT, GERMANY UNTIL JULY 1946; AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER; COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE; ARMY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL; EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BATTLE STARS; WWII VICTORY MEDAL; ARMY OF OCCUPATION SERVICE MEDAL; M-1 RIFLE EXPERT BADGE; BAYONET EXPERT BADGE; GRENADE EXPERT BADGE; RIFLE GRENADE SHARPSHOOTER BADGE; BAZOOKA MARKSMAN BADGE.