World War II Honoree

Esta Stanley Furr

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Aberdeen, Mississippi

Honored By

William Frazier Furr

Relationship

Nephew

HE WAS CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY IN THE ARMY IN JUNE 1943 AFTER THREE YEARS IN ROTC. AFTER COMPLETING BASIC TRAINING AT FORT MCCLELLAN, ALABAMA, HE WAS SENT BACK TO MISSISSIPPI FROM OCTOBER THROUGH FEBRUARY. HE FLUNKED OUT OF OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL IN THE FALL OF 1944 AND WAS SENT OVERSEAS AS AN INFANTRY REINFORCEMENT OR REPLACEMENT. HIS FIRST COMBAT WAS IN NOVEMBER 1944. IN THE EFFORT TO CAPTURE COLMAR, HE WAS WOUNDED IN THE RIGHT LEG JANUARY 22, 1945. HE WAS HOSPITALIZED UNTIL APRIL OF THAT YEAR AND RETURNED TO HIS UNIT AFTER THE WAR IN EUROPE ENDED. WWII ENDED IN SEPTEMBER 1945. HIS ARMY CAREER ENDED IN JANUARY OF 1946 WITH THE RANK OF PRIVATE FIRST CLASS. HIS TENURE IN A SPECIFIC UNIT WAS NEVER LONG ENOUGH TO GET A PROMOTION. HIS AWARDS INCLUDE THE SILVER STAR, PURPLE HEART, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, TWO BATTLE STARS, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AND THE FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE.