World War II Honoree

George Patrick Basel

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Richmond Hill, New York

Honored By

Brian George Basel

Relationship

Son

SURGICAL TECHNICIAN 4TH GRADE AND COMBAT MEDIC WITH MEDICAL DETACHMENT, 2ND 'NOLI ME TANGERE' REGIMENT, 5TH 'RED DIAMOND' DIVISION 'THE RED DEVILS'. SERVED FROM FEBRUARY 23, 1943 TO DECEMBER 21, 1945. OVERSEAS FROM APRIL 6, 1944 TO JULY 18, 1945. AWARDED THE COMBAT MEDIC BADGE, BRONZE STAR, PURPLE HEART, ARMY MERITORIOUS UNIT CITATION (JANUARY 15, 1945-JUNE 30, 1945), GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE STARS FOR THE CAMPAIGNS OF NORTHERN FRANCE, ARDENNES, CENTRAL EUROPE AND RHINELAND, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH GERMANY BAR (MAY 2, 1945-JUNE 22, 1945). AWARDED 3 OVERSEAS SERVICE STRIPES AND THE 'RUPTURED DUCK' LAPEL BUTTON FOR HONORABLE SERVICE. TRAINED AT CAMP PICKETT, VIRGINIA; FORT BENJAMIN HARRISON, INDIANA WITH 99TH GENERAL HOSPITAL AT FORT ANDREWS, MASSACHUSETTS AND FORT ETHAN ALLEN, VERMONT; AS WELL AS AT FORT GEORGE MEADE, MARYLAND. DEPARTED FROM CAMP KILMER, NEW JERSEY ABOARD HER MAJESTY'S SHIP, RANGITIKEI TO LIVERPOOL. CONDUCTED ADDITIONAL TRAINING AT NORTH WALES AND HERTFORDSHIRE, ENGLAND AND WAS STATIONED AT 99TH GENERAL HOSPITAL AID STATION, SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND. DEPARTED SOUTHAMPTON ABOARD HER MAJESTY'S SHIP, CITY OF CANTERBURY. ARRIVED AT OMAHA BEACH, NORMANDY EN ROUTE TO REIMS, FRANCE WITH 99TH GENERAL HOSPITAL. WARD MASTER WITH GERMAN PRISONERS OF WAR ON ONE SIDE AND AMERICAN PARATROOPERS FROM THE 101ST AIRBORNE ON THE OTHER, HE HAD A HARD TIME KEEPING THEM APART. BECAME AN AID MAN TO 1ST BATTALION, 2ND INFANTRY, 5TH DIVISION, COMPANY B, 2ND PLATOON. ON DETAIL TO THE FRONT AS REPLACEMENT MEDICS TO THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. HE WAS WOUNDED IN THE LEGS BY SHRAPNEL AFTER CROSSING THE MOSEL RIVER AT KARDEN, GERMANY ABOVE KOBLENZ. TREATED AT 95TH GENERAL HOSPITAL IN FRANCE. CELEBRATED V-E DAY IN LUXEMBOURG CITY. REJOINED 5TH DIVISION IN LENORA, CZECHOSLOVAKIA, FOR OCCUPATION DUTY. THAT MONTH THE REGIMENTAL COMMANDER FLEW TO VODNANY TO RECEIVE THE 'ORDER OF THE RED STAR' AT AN AMERICAN-RUSSIAN CEREMONY COMMEMORATING THE SPIRIT OF COOPERATION AND COMRADESHIP BETWEEN THE TWO ARMIES AND THEIR GOVERNMENTS. AT 0900 ON 23 JUNE, DEPARTED BY TRUCK TO POCKING, GERMANY AND BY 1200 HAD BOARDED A TRAIN AND WAS ON THE WAY TO CAMP ST. LOUIS, MOURMELON, FRANCE, A REDEPLOYMENT AREA. ON JULY 5 MOVED BY RAILROAD AND TRUCK TO CAMP LUCKY STRIKE, ST. VALARY (LEHAVRE), FRANCE. AT 0400 ON THE 10TH, EMBARKED ON THE USS GENERAL GREELEY, A NAVY TROOP TRANSPORT SHIP, MANNED BY THE U.S. COAST GUARD. ON JULY 18TH, DROPPED ANCHOR AT 0900 IN LOWER NEW YORK HARBOR, DOCKED AT PIER 88 AT 1100, AND DISEMBARKED AT 1500 AND BY THE END OF THE DAY ARRIVED AT CAMP SHANKS, NEW YORK. CONTINUED ON TO CAMP CAMPBELL FOR REDEPLOYMENT TO JAPAN, BUT V-J DAY CAME BEFORE HIS DEPLOYMENT.