World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
John William Gonser
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Nappanee, Indiana
Honored By
The Hebner & Kemp Families
EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. HEADQUARTERS DETACHMENT, 166TH ORDNANCE BATTALION, IN NORTHERN FRANCE. INDUCTION DATE: DECEMBER 28, 1942. ENTERED THROUGH CAMP PERRY, OHIO. BASIC TRAINING CAMP MAXI, TEXAS. TECHNICIAN 4TH GRADE. SEPARATION DATE: NOVEMBER 27, 1945 THROUGH CAMP ATTERBURY, INDIANA. DECORATIONS & CITATIONS: EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER RIBBON WITH 3-BRONZE STARS, AMERICAN THEATER RIBBON, GOOD CONDUCT RIBBON, VICTORY MEDAL, AND BRONZE STAR MEDAL. SOISSONS MEDALLION AWARDED BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SIOSSONS. CITATION FOR BRONZE STAR MEDAL FOR MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT IN CONNECTION WITH MILITARY OPERATIONS, AS MESSAGE CENTER CHIEF, 166TH ORDNANCE BATTALION, COMMUNICATIONS ZONE, EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ON DECEMBER 26 AND 27, 1944. PRIVATE FIRST CLASS GONSER, WITHOUT REGARD FOR HIS PERSONAL SAFETY, AIDED IN THE REMOVAL OF AMMUNITION CARS FROM IMPENDING DESTRUCTION IN A FIRE AND EXPLOSION OF AMMUNITION AT THE SOISSONS RAILHEAD, THE RESULT OF BOMBING AND STRAFING BY AN ENEMY PLANE. THIS ACTION SAVED MUCH VALUABLE MATERIAL AND CONFINED THE AREA OF THE DANGER.