World War II Honoree

Abe Plotkin

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Ralph Bozorth

WITH HIS DRAFT NUMBER COMING UP AND HIS ANGER RISING OVER REPORTS OF GERMANY'S HUMAN-RIGHTS ABUSES, IT WAS AN EASY DECISION TO CLOSE HIS SCRANTON SHOE STORE AND ENLIST IN THE ARMY IN 1942. HE SAILED TO EUROPE WITH HIS UNIT, THE 284TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION IN 1944, AND LANDED ON UTAH BEACH IN THE WEEKS FOLLOWING THE INVASION. ATTACHED TO VARIOUS INFANTRY FORCES, THE 284TH FOUGHT ACROSS FRANCE AND INTO GERMANY. HIS UNIT WAS PART OF THE THIRD ARMY THAT COUNTERATTACKED AT THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. HE RECALLED BACKING THE 5TH RANGERS BATTALION IN THEIR GRUELING FIGHT AT THE SAAR RIVER. HE REMEMBERS THE UNIT'S 105 MM SHELLS PRACTICALLY BOUNCING OFF THE THICK WALLS AT THE GERMAN HELD MEDIEVAL FORTRESS OF METZ. IN APRIL 1945, HIS UNIT WAS AMONG THE FIRST AMERICANS TO DISCOVER THE OHRDRUF CONCENTRATION CAMP. THE CAMP WAS QUIET AND ABANDONED, EXCEPT FOR A FEW SURVIVORS. DEAD, EMACIATED MEN LAY STREWN ON THE GROUND, FRESHLY KILLED BY GERMAN GUARDS FLEEING THE ALLIES' ADVANCE. CORPSES WERE PILED IN SHEDS AND LEFT IN CHARRED HEAPS. HE WAS AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE BATTLE STARS AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HE IS AMONG 100 AMERICAN WWII VETERANS WHO RECEIVED FRANCE'S PRESTIGIOUS LEGION OF HONOR AWARD IN CEREMONIES IN THAT COUNTRY MARKING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MASSIVE D-DAY INVASION OF NORMANDY'S BEACHES.