World War II Honoree

Horace H. Fuller

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Fort Meade, South Dakota

Honored By

William Steven Stegall

WAS ASSIGNED TO PARIS AS MILITARY ATTACHE UNTIL AUGUST, 1940. AFTER RETURNING TO THE U.S., PROMOTED TO BRIGADIER GENERAL 'TEMPORARY' IN OCTOBER, 1940, AND THEN MAJOR GENERAL 'TEMPORARY' BY DECEMBER, 1941. WAS ASSIGNED TO COMMAND THE 41ST INFANTRY DIVISION. SENT TO THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATRE AND ACCOMPANIED THE 41ST DIVISION INTO THE NEW GUINEA OFFENSIVES. DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL ABILITY AND SOUND JUDGEMENT IN BRINGING HIS DIVISION TO EXCELLENT EFFICIENCY IN JUNGLE COMBAT. LED THE 41ST IN THE PAPUAN OFFENSIVES, THE WESTERN NEW GUINEA OFFENSIVES AND THE BIAK OPERATION. MADE EXECUTIONS OF ASSIGNED MISSIONS AND SUCCEEDED IN DISLODGING THE JAPANESE FORCING THEM TO RELINQUISH THE NEW GUINEA CONQUEST. IN 1944, WAS APPOINTED AS PRESIDENT OF THE US ARMY FORCES IN THE FAR EAST BOARD AND LATER NAMED DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF, SOUTHEAST ASIA COMMAND. WAS AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL IN 1944 BY GENERAL DOUGLAS MACARTHUR. SILVER STAR AWARD FOR SALAMAUA OPERATION.