World War II Honoree

John O. Daugherty

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Culpeper, Virginia

Honored By

John O. Daugherty

SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER 1944-1945. RECEIVED THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN RIBBON WITH THREE BATTLE STARS FOR ARDENNES, RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE, AMERICAN THEATER RIBBON WWII, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL. DRAFTED EARLY 1943. COMBAT WITH THE 308TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION OF THE 78TH INFANTRY DIVISION (KNOWN AS THE LIGHTNING DIVISION). THE DIVISION WAS ASSIGNED THE TASK OF CRACKING THE SIEGFRIED LINE AND SECURING THE SCHWAMMENAUEL DAM. HAD THE DAM BEEN BLOWN, IT WOULD HAVE FLOODED THE VALLEYS TO THE NORTH. THE DAM WAS SECURED WITHOUT FLOODING. THE LUDENDORFF BRIDGE AT REMAGEN ON THE RHINE RIVER WAS CAPTURED INTACT BY UNITS OF THE DIVISION, INCLUDING THE ARTILLERY SUPPORT OF THE 308TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION. THE INDUSTRIAL-RICH RUHR VALLEY WAS SURROUNDED WITH OVER THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND GERMAN SOLDIERS ENTRAPPED. THE DIVISION WAS TASKED TO CLEAN OUT A SECTION OF THE RUHR POCKET WHILE OTHER UNITS RACED TO BERLIN. RETIRED SEPTEMBER 30, 1966 IN FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA, WITH RANK OF COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR E-9.