World War II Honoree

Oakley Earl Hargrave

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Cisne, Illinois

Honored By

Alan Hargrave

Relationship

Son

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON APRIL 16, 1941 AT EAST SAINT LOUIS, ILLINOIS. COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING, QUALIFIED AS A RIFLEMAN, MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY (MOS) 745 AND ASSIGNED TO COMPANY L, 109TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 28TH ‘KEYSTONE’ INFANTRY DIVISION. DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. (CONUS) WITH HIS UNIT ON OCTOBER 8, 1943 BOUND FOR ENGLAND AND INTENSIVE PREPARATIONS FOR OPERATION OVERLORD (THE INVASION AT NORMANDY). ENTERED COMBAT ON JULY 22, 1944 AND WAS WOUNDED BY ENEMY ACTION ON AUGUST 7, 1944 DURING THE BATTLE FOR ST. GATHEMO, FRANCE. TREATED BY THE 118TH GENERAL HOSPITAL AND RETURNED TO DUTY SERVING AS A PLATOON SERGEANT. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A TECHNICAL SERGEANT ON MARCH 6, 1945 TO ACCEPT A BATTLEFIELD COMMISSION AS A 2ND LIEUTENANT. ENTERED ACTIVE DUTY THE NEXT DAY AS AN INFANTRY UNIT COMMANDER (MOS 1542) PLATOON COMMANDER WITH COMPANY M, 109TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 28TH INFANTRY DIVISION. BY VICTORY IN EUROPE (V-E DAY), HAD FOUGHT IN THE NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, ARDENNES, RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. WAS THEN TRANSFERRED TO COMPANY F, 289TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 75TH INFANTRY DIVISION FOR EARLY PASSAGE BACK TO THE CONTINENTAL U.S. RECOMMENDED FOR A SILVER STAR MEDAL AND EARNED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL (ACTION ON 4 AUGUST, 1944), PURPLE HEART MEDAL, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH A SILVER BATTLE STAR (5 CAMPAIGNS), WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND 2 FRENCH UNIT AWARDS INCLUDING THE CROIX DE GUERRE AND FOURRAGERE. HONORABLY SEPARATED FROM THE SERVICE AS A 2ND LIEUTENANT ON NOVEMBER 19, 1945 AT FORT SHERIDAN, ILLINOIS.