World War II Honoree

Louis Gerard Gruntz

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Metairie, Louisiana

Honored By

Louis G. Gruntz, Jr.

Relationship

Son

SERVED AS A CORPORAL IN B COMPANY, 712TH TANK BATTALION WHICH LANDED AT UTAH BEACH AS PART OF THE 1ST ARMY AND THEN WAS ATTACHED TO 90TH INFANTRY, 3RD ARMY UNDER COMMAND OF GENERAL GEORGE PATTON, JR.; HE SERVED IN 5 MAJOR CAMPAIGNS IN EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, ARDENNES, RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE. HE TOOK PART IN THE HEDGEROW FIGHTING IN NORMANDY AND THE BREAKOUT FROM ST. LÔ-PÉRIERS; HE WAS WOUNDED DURING THE 3RD ARMY’S DASH ACROSS FRANCE AND WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART. HE ALSO RECEIVED THE BRONZE STAR FOR HEROIC ACHIEVEMENT BY DESTROYING AN ENEMY CONVOY DURING THE ENCIRCLEMENT AND CAPTURE OF METZ. HE WAS PART OF PATTON’S RELIEF FORCE FOR THE BESIEGED TOWN OF BASTOGNE AND ENGAGED THE ENEMY DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE WHERE HE WAS PART OF THE SMALL ATTACK FORCE THAT INFILTRATED THROUGH 2 GERMAN DIVISIONS DURING A NIGHT ADVANCE AND SEIZED HILL 490. THE CAPTURE OF THE STRATEGIC CROSSROADS ON THE HIGH GROUND BEHIND ENEMY LINES MARKED THE END OF THE FIGHTING FOR BASTOGNE. AS A MEMBER OF THE 712TH TANK BATTALION HE HELPED BREACH THE SIEGFRIED LINE, CROSSED THE RHINE AND CUT THROUGH THE HEART OF GERMANY AND WAS IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA ON V-E DAY, WHERE THE 3RD ARMY MET UP WITH THE RUSSIAN ARMY.