World War II Honoree

Lloyd M. Halbert

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Beaumont, Texas

Honored By

Joseph A. Bligh

Relationship

Buddy

RIFLEMAN, COMPANY B, 59TH ARMORED INFANTRY BATTALION, 13TH ARMORED 'BLACK CAT' DIVISION IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. LANDED IN LE HAVRE, FRANCE IN JANUARY 1945 AND SERVED WITH THE 3RD SQUAD, 1ST PLATOON UNTIL JULY, 1945. FOUGHT IN THE 1ST ARMY'S RHINELAND CAMPAIGN (BATTLE OF THE RUHR POCKET) AND THE 3RD ARMY'S CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGN (BAVARIA TO AUSTRIA). AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE AND 2 BATTLE STARS. REDEPLOYED TO U.S. TO PREPARE FOR THE MARCH 1946 INVASION OF HONSHU, JAPAN (OPERATION CORONET) WHERE THE BLACK CATS WERE TO LEAD THE 8TH ARMY'S ASSAULT ON TOKYO. HOWEVER, 2 ATOMIC BOMBS FORCED JAPAN TO SURRENDER IN LATE SUMMER 1945.