World War II Honoree

Paul F. Waller

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Union City, Georgia

Honored By

Ken Waller

Relationship

Son

2ND PLATOON, COMPANY A, 147TH ENGINEERS BATTALION. STATESIDE, TRAINED TO DESTROY AND REPAIR BRIDGES AND CLEAR MINEFIELDS AT CAMP SWIFT, TEXAS; CAMP POLK, LOUISIANA, 3RD ARMY MANEUVERS; AMPHIBIOUS TRAINING AT CAMP PICKETT, VIRGINIA; PREPARATION TO GO TO EUROPE AT CAMP KILMER, NEW JERSEY. HE WENT TO ENGLAND ON THE MAURITANIA TO TRAIN FOR THE ALLIED INVASION. IN JUNE 1944, HE LEFT FROM FALMOUTH, AFTER BEING DEBRIEFED AND WARNED TO EXPECT 70% CASUALTIES. LANDED AT OMAHA BEACH ON D-DAY AND USED BANGALORE TORPEDOES TO CLEAR A PATH THROUGH THE MINEFIELDS. ALSO DROVE AMPHIBIAN DUCKS TO OFFLOAD SUPPLIES FROM SHIPS. LATER, COMPANY A WENT THROUGH JULLOVILLE, FRANCE INTO BELGIUM, CLEARING MINEFIELDS AND REBUILDING BRIDGES. LINKED UP WITH THE BRITISH 3RD ARMY FOR AWHILE AND PUSHED INTO GERMANY, KEEPING BUSY REPAIRING ROADS AND GUARDING GERMAN PRISONERS. AS THE CONFLICT ENDED, HE REPAIRED ROADS AND WORKED AT A ROCK QUARRY IN AYWAILLE, BELGIUM BEFORE RETURNING TO NEW YORK. AWARDED BRONZE SERVICE MEDAL AND BRONZE ARROWHEAD 5/25/45; BRONZE SERVICE STAR 7/16/45; DISTINGUISHED UNIT BADGE AND CITATION.