World War II Honoree

Wardell Hartford Lyke

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Copemish, Michigan

Honored By

Benjamin Maddox

Relationship

Grandson

BEGAN WWII SERVICE IN 1942. INITIALLY ASSIGNED TO BATTERY C, 126TH ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY GUN BATTALION (MOBILE). SELECTED FOR ARMY SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAM. WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY AT ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI. DISSOLUTION OF PROGRAM 1944. SENT TO INFANTRY. TRAINED AS MORTAR CREWMAN. D COMPANY, 387TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 97TH INFANTRY DIVISION. SHIPPED TO EUROPE. PARTICIPATED IN THE RUHR VALLEY CAMPAIGN AND SAW COMBAT IN THE CLOSING MONTHS OF THE WAR. EARNED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE. AFTER THE SURRENDER OF GERMANY READIED FOR THE INVASION OF JAPAN. INVASION WAS MADE UNNECESSARY DUE TO THE ATOMIC BOMBINGS OF HIROSHIMA AND NAGASAKI. SERVED OUT REMAINING TIME WITH THE ARMY OF OCCUPATION JAPAN.