World War II Honoree

Harvey Francis Hoard

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Flora, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

DRAFTED AND REPORTED FOR DUTY AT FORT SHERIDAN, ILLINOIS, ON 26 MAY, 1943. ATTENDED BASIC TRAINING AND MECHANIC SCHOOLING AT FORT KNOX, KENTUCKY AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 740TH TANK BATTALION NEWLY FORMED AT THAT POST. WAS SHIPPED TO ENGLAND ON JULY 26, 1944 AND ARRIVED AT NEUFCHATEAU, BELGIUM, VIA UTAH BEACH IN NORMANDY, ON NOVEMBER 8, 1944. THE 740TH, KNOWN AS THE 'DAREDEVIL TANKERS,' SAW HEAVY ACTION FROM THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE, THE ARDENNES, THE RUHR POCKET, AND INTO NORTHWEST GERMANY BY WAR'S END. AFTER VICTORY IN EUROPE, THEY BECAME PART OF THE ARMY OF OCCUPATION. WAS AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE EUROPEAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL, THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND THE GOOD CONDUCT METAL. WAS DISCHARGED AT CAMP GRANT, ILLINOIS ON JANUARY 1, 1946.