World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Irvin Earl Hillard
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Vestaburg, Michigan
Honored By
Family
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS. ENTERED THE UNITED STATES ARMY ON MAY 1, 1944. TOOK ARMORED BASIC TRAINING AT FORT KNOX, KENTUCKY FOR 8 WEEKS AND THEN COMPLETED AN 8 WEEK COURSE IN TANK DRIVING AND MAINTENANCE AND WENT ON MANEUVERS AFTERWARDS. SERVED WITH THE 6TH ARMORED DIVISION IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS AS A MEDIUM TANK DRIVER IN THE 15TH TANK BATTALION. DROVE A SHERMAN TANK IN CAMPAIGNS OF FRANCE, BELGIUM AND GERMANY AND WAS WOUNDED ON APRIL 1, 1945 IN CASTLE, GERMANY. RECEIVED THE PURPLE HEART AND SILVER STAR. FOUGHT AT THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE AND THE HUERTGEN FOREST. LEFT THE SERVICE ON MARCH 30, 1947 FROM PERCY JONES GENERAL HOSPITAL, FORT CUSTER, MICHIGAN AND RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE FROM THE UNITED STATES ARMY.