World War II Honoree

Terrance John Quinn

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Binghamton, New York

Honored By

Phyllis M. Quinn

Relationship

Wife

SERVED FROM OCTOBER 1943 TO JUNE 1945 IN NORTH AFRICA, ITALY AND GERMANY. RADIO TECHNICIAN WITH THE 88TH INFANTRY DIVISION, U.S. ARMY, APO 88, AG 200. AWARDED THE BRONZE MEDAL. CITATION READS: TERRANCE J. QUINN, 32376945, TECHNICIAN FOURTH GRADE, HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, 351ST INFANTRY REGIMENT. FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE IN COMBAT FROM MAY 2, 1944 TO MAY 2, 1945. DURING THIS PERIOD, SERGEANT QUINN WAS SIGNAL REPAIR AND SIGNAL SUPPLY NON-COMMISSIONED FOR THE REGIMENT, ON MAY 7, 1944, SERGEANT QUINN VOLUNTEERED TO INSTALL AND OPERATE A CAPTURED GERMAN RADIO, IN A CEMETERY, IN THE VICINITY OF MINTURNO, ITALY. DESPITE HEAVY ENEMY MORTAR AND ARTILLERY FIRE, HE REMAINED AT HIS POST, MAKING REPAIRS TO THE RADIO AND INTERCEPTING MUCH VALUABLE INFORMATION, WHICH WAS TURNED OVER TO THE PROPER INTELLIGENCE SECTION. ON JULY 10, 1944, DURING THE ATTACK ON LAJATICO, ITALY, SERGEANT QUINN RECEIVED AN URGENT CALL FROM THE 2ND BATTALION, ASKING FOR WIRE AND BATTERIES FOR RADIOS. UNABLE TO OBTAIN A DRIVER, SERGEANT QUINN SECURED A JEEP AND DROVE IT HIMSELF. EN ROUTE, HE RAN INTO HEAVY ARTILLERY FIRE, BUT REALIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING THE SIGNAL EQUIPMENT TO ITS DESTINATION, HE REFUSED TO TAKE COVER AND CONTINUED ON, UNTIL THE CONCUSSION FROM A CLOSE SHELL BURST, THREW THE JEEP OFF THE ROAD. PARTIALLY UPSETTING IT, SERGEANT QUINN MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE IN A UPRIGHT POSITION AND DELIVERED THE WIRE AND BATTERIES, THUS ENABLING THE BATTALION TO MAINTAIN COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE RIFLE COMPANIES AND HEADQUARTERS, DURING A CRUCIAL PERIOD IN THE ATTACK. MUCH OF OUR SUCCESS IN RADIO COMMUNICATIONS WAS DUE TO HIS FINE WORK. ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE FROM BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK. BRIGADIER GENERAL, U.S. ARMY, COMMANDING.