World War II Honoree

Eugene J. Nolan

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Fort Dodge, Iowa

Honored By

Katherine Anderson Langmade

Relationship

Granddaughter

TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE NORMANDY INVASION IN APRIL 1944, WAS ASSIGNED TO 175TH REGIMENT, 29TH DIVISION. PLACED ON TEMPORARY DUTY WITH 115TH REGIMENT JUST PRIOR TO D-DAY AND RETURNED TO 175TH SEVERAL DAYS AFTER THE INVASION. FOUGHT ON OMAHA BEACH ON D-DAY, JUNE 6, 1944. IN ADDITION TO THE BEACHHEAD AND ITS CARNAGE, ALSO FOUGHT IN THE BATTLES FOR ST. LO, BREST AND JULICH. AFTER THREE AND ONE-HALF MONTHS OF FIGHTING IN THE HEDGEROWS OF NORMANDY AND BRITTANY, WAS MOVED TO THE OPEN TERRAIN OF THE RHINELAND AS ALLIED ARMIES SWEPT WESTWARD. WAS NEAR BREMERHAVEN IN NORTHERN GERMANY ON V-E DAY, MAY 8, 1945, BUT DID NOT MAKE IT BACK TO THE U.S. UNTIL OCTOBER, FIVE MONTHS LATER. CARRIES REMNANTS OF SHRAPNEL IN HIS RIGHT SHOULDER FROM THE SIEGE OF ST. LO, FRANCE. WAS ALSO WOUNDED ON A FOOTBRIDGE ON THE ROER RIVER DURING THE BATTLE OF JULICH, GERMANY. RECEIVED TWO PURPLE HEARTS, BRONZE STAR, INFANTRY RIFLEMAN BADGE, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AND FOUR BRONZE BATTLE STARS.