World War II Honoree

Olen Frank Witcher

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Newnan, Georgia

Honored By

John R. Lines

Relationship

Son-in-law

INDUCTED JUNE 3, 1941 AT FORT MCPHERSON, ATLANTA, GEORGIA AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE INFANTRY. TRAINED AT CAMPS WOLTERS AND BOWIE, TEXAS; CAMP BLANDING, FLORIDA; CAMP EDWARDS, MASSACHUSETTS. SERVED WITH COMPANY A, 142ND REGIMENT, 36TH INFANTRY DIVISION, 5TH ARMY CORPS. IN SEPTEMBER 1943, HE PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF ITALY AT SALERNO AND WAS WOUNDED BY ENEMY FIRE AT MONTE CASSINO IN FEBRUARY 1944 FOR WHICH HE RECEIVED A PURPLE HEART. HE SPENT 3 MONTHS IN THE 300TH GENERAL HOSPITAL, NAPLES AND AFTER RECOVERING, WAS ATTACHED TO A MILITARY POLICE UNIT AT 5TH ARMY HEADQUARTERS AT NAPLES. RETURNED TO THE STATES IN JULY 1944 AND WAS STATIONED AT EDGEWOOD ARSENAL, MARYLAND IN A MILITARY POLICE UNIT AND THEN MOVED TO LOGAN AIR FORCE BASE, MARYLAND WHERE HE TRANSPORTED GERMAN PRISONERS OF WAR TO VARIOUS PRISON CAMPS AROUND THE COUNTRY. IN JULY 1945, HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT IN OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA AND WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED AT OAKLAND REGIONAL HOSPITAL ON SEPTEMBER 9, 1945.