World War II Honoree

Matthew George Oberstar

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Cleveland, Ohio

Honored By

Susan M. Sternad Basel

Relationship

Niece

TECHNICIAN 5TH GRADE. SERVED FROM JUNE 10, 1942 TO DECEMBER 15, 1945, OVERSEAS FROM AUGUST 11, 1944 TO DECEMBER 8, 1945, WITH BATTERY D, 482ND ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY AUTOMATIC WEAPONS BATTALION, ATTACHED TO THE 9TH ARMORED DIVISION. WOUNDED IN ACTION AT BASTOGNE, BELGIUM ON DECEMBER 28, 1944. LANDED IN NORMANDY IN LATE SEPTEMBER 1944 AND BEGAN HEAVY FIGHTING AS THE GERMANS LAUNCHED THEIR WINTER OFFENSIVE. SAW SEVERE ACTION AT ST. VITH, ECHTERNACH AND BASTOGNE. THE STAND AT BASTOGNE HELD OFF THE GERMANS LONG ENOUGH TO ENABLE THE 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION TO DIG IN FOR A DEFENSE OF THE CITY. THE 9TH CONTINUED ITS DRIVE ACROSS THE ROER RIVER TO RHEINBACH. IT LATER FOUND THE LUDENDORFF BRIDGE INTACT. ITS ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERYMEN DEPLOYED THEIR WEAPONS SO SKILLFULLY THAT IN THE ENSUING DAYS NUMEROUS ENEMY AIRPLANES WERE DESTROYED IN ATTEMPTS TO DESTROY THE BRIDGE. THE UNIT MOVED ACROSS THE LAHN RIVER TO LIMBURG, AND LIBERATED THOUSANDS OF ALLIED PRISONERS FROM STALAG XIIA. DROVE ON TO FRANKFURT AND ASSISTED IN CLOSING THE RUHR POCKET; THEN ENCIRCLED LEIPZIG AND SECURED A LINE ALONG THE MULDE RIVER. HE WAS HEADED TO CZECHOSLOVAKIA AS THE WAR ENDED AND HE REMAINED FOR OCCUPATION DUTY. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE STARS (FOR ARDENNES, CENTRAL EUROPE AND RHINELAND), WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL, SHARPSHOOTER RIFLE AND THOMPSON SUBMACHINE GUN AND WAS A DRIVER, HALF TRACK VEHICLES. ALSO EARNED 2 OVERSEAS SERVICE STRIPES AND THE 'RUPTURED DUCK' HONORABLE SERVICE DISCHARGE PIN.