World War II Honoree

Howard Loren Willet

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Pineville, Louisiana

Honored By

His Children

COMPANY I, 232ND INFANTRY REGIMENT, 42ND RAINBOW DIVISION. ENTERED COMBAT AS PART OF TASK FORCE LINDEN NEAR STRASBURG, FRANCE ON DECEMBER 24, 1944. ACTION INCLUDED GAMBSHEIM. WAS THE 1ST UNIT OF IV CORPS TO ENTER GERMANY ON MARCH 18, 1945. ENGAGEMENTS WERE AT WURZBURG, SCHWEINFURT AND FURTH, THEN LIBERATION OF DACHAU CONCENTRATION CAMP. ENDED SERVICE FROM AUSTRIA IN 1946; SERGEANT. RECEIVED 3 OVERSEAS BARS, COMBAT INFANTRY, AMERICAN THEATER MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER MEDAL (WITH RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE BATTLE STARS), PURPLE HEART AND BRONZE STAR WITH VALOR EMBLEM (BOTH FROM ACTION ON APRIL 6, 1945 IN WURZBURG, GERMANY), WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL.