World War II Honoree

Willie Ray Evans

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Philadelphia, Mississippi

Honored By

Susan Evans Jackson

Relationship

Daughter

ENLISTED AUGUST 21, 1943 AT CAMP SHELBY, MISSISSIPPI. SERVED AND TRAINED IN THE AMERICAN THEATRE OF OPERATIONS WITH THE 42ND REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM, 42ND 'RAINBOW' DIVISION AT CAMP GRUBER, OKLAHOMA. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATRE OF OPERATIONS AS A RIFLEMAN WITH COMPANY A, 120TH REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM, 30TH INFANTRY 'OLD HICKORY' DIVISION, JUNE 1944 TO AUGUST 1945. PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF NORMANDY ON JUNE 10, 1944 AND THE CAMPAIGNS IN NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE AND CENTRAL EUROPE. WOUNDED IN ACTION IN HOLLAND ON OCTOBER 10, 1944 AND HOSPITALIZED UNTIL JANUARY 10, 1945. WOUNDED A SECOND TIME IN GERMANY ON JANUARY 19, 1945 AND HOSPITALIZED IN BELGIUM, FEBRUARY 1945. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AND THE PURPLE HEART WITH ONE BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER. DISCHARGED AT CAMP SHELBY ON OCTOBER 19, 1945; DEMOBILIZATION.