World War II Honoree

Arnold Charles Gaeth

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Tonawanda, New York

Honored By

Christy Bennett

Relationship

Granddaughter

BEGAN FORMATION AND TRAINING IN PINE CAMP, NEW YORK WITH THE 4TH ARMORED DIVISION, COMPANY A, 84TH RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION MECHANIZED. SPECIALLY TRAINED TO BE A RADIO OPERATOR. THE TROOP BEGAN A TRIP WEST IN 1942. PARTICIPATED IN MANEUVERS IN TENNESSEE BEFORE ARRIVING IN CALIFORNIA FOR DESERT TRAINING. BEFORE GOING OVERSEAS, A TROOP PERFORMED DUTY AT FORT RILEY, KANSAS; CAMP BOWIE, TEXAS AND IN INDIANOLA, MISSISSIPPI. DURING THIS TIME, THEY WERE RENAMED A TROOP, 25TH CALVARY RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON MECHANIZED. THEY ARRIVED IN UNITED KINGDOM, IN BRISTOL CHANNEL ON JANUARY 14, 1944. LANDED ON UTAH BEACH ON JULY 11, 1944. INVOLVED IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE AND TASK FORCE BAUM. IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA WHEN THE WAR IN EUROPE ENDED. WENT INTO GERMANY THE MIDDLE OF MAY ON PACIFICATION AND OCCUPATION DUTY. RETURNED HOME IN OCTOBER 1945.