World War II Honoree

Harold F. Atkinson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

White Plains, Kentucky

Honored By

Kerry Atkinson

Relationship

son

SERVED IN THE ROTC AT WESTERN KENTUCKY TEACHER'S COLLEGE FOR ONE YEAR BEFORE BEING CALLED INTO ACTIVE SERVICE ON APRIL 9, 1943 IN BOWLING GREEN, KENTUCKY. HE WENT TO FORT BENJAMIN HARRISON, INDIANA FOR HIS PHYSICAL AND TO CAMP WALTERS, TEXAS FOR BASIC TRAINING. HE WAS THEN SENT TO CAMP LANDING IN SPARKS, FLORIDA TO SET UP AN INFANTRY TRAINING CAMP FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRAINING RECRUITS. SERVED WITH THE 36TH INFANTRY DIVISION, COMPANY F, 157TH INFANTRY BATTALION, 45TH INFANTRY DIVISION. HE DEPARTED FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ON AUGUST 16, 1944 AND ARRIVED ON AUGUST 26, 1944. HE REACHED THE RANK OF TECHNICIAN FIFTH GRADE. HE WORKED FOR 12 MONTHS AS AN ARMORER 511 AND FOR 7 MONTHS AS A RIFLEMAN. HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING, SERVICING AND MAKING MINOR REPAIRS OF SMALL ARMS WEAPONS. HE ALSO WORKED ON RIFLES, CARBINES, PISTOLS, AND MACHINE GUNS. HE PARTICIPATED IN THE CAMPAIGNS OF RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE. HE RETURNED TO THE U.S. ON SEPTEMBER 10, 1945. HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SENT TO FORT HOOD, TEXAS TO TRAIN FOR THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS, BUT WAS DISCHARGED ON THE POINT SYSTEM INSTEAD. WAS AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL, THE AMERICAN THEATER RIBBON, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER RIBBON WITH TWO BRONZE STARS, GOOD CONDUCT RIBBON, THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE AND THE RIFLE SHARPSHOOTER BADGE. RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE ON NOVEMBER 3, 1945.