World War II Honoree

Manuel Charach

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Jeffrey Charach

Relationship

Son

SERVED WITH 430TH ANTI-AIRCRAFT AUTOMATIC WEAPONS BATTALION AS GUNNER ON HALF-TRACK IN EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. ENTERED FRANCE ON JUNE 10, 1944 WITH 1ST ARMY. DID NIGHTTIME RECONNAISSANCE TO CAPTURE LE BOURGET AIRFIELD IN PARIS 2 DAYS BEFORE PARIS WAS LIBERATED. HE WAS IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE DEFENDING THE LINE BETWEEN AACHEN AND STOLBERG, GERMANY. RECEIVED PURPLE HEART IN DECEMBER FOR WOUNDS OUTSIDE OF AACHEN. ATTACHED TO 2ND ARMORED DIVISION, PATROLLED ON RECONNAISSANCE TO THE GERMAN AUTOBAHN. RECEIVED BRONZE STAR FOR MERITORIOUS ACTION ON APRIL 1 IN A GERMAN COUNTER-ATTACK WHICH CAPTURED 3 GERMAN TANKS AND A NUMBER OF GERMAN TROOPS. WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO REACH RHINE RIVER ON APRIL 12 OUTSIDE CITY OF MAGDEBURG. TRAINED IN MARSEILLES DURING JUNE AND JULY 1944 FOR AMPHIBIOUS ACTION FOR THE FAR EAST. ENLISTED ON HIS 17TH BIRTHDAY AND LEFT FOR ACTIVE DUTY ON DAY OF 18TH BIRTHDAY IN JUNE 1944. RETURNED FROM EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS IN DECEMBER 1945 AND DISCHARGED ON DECEMBER 12, 1945.