World War II Honoree

Clifford E. Copenhaver

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Monroe City, Missouri

Honored By

Lawrence L. Schuermann

Relationship

Friend

JOINED THE ARMY ON FEBRUARY 10, 1943. ATTENDED BASIC TRAINING AT FORT SILL, OKLAHOMA. PLACED WITH THE 45TH INFANTRY DIVISION, 179TH REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM, 160TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION, BATTERY A. ARRIVED IN NORTH AFRICA LATE SEPTEMBER 1943. IN COMBAT EARLY OCTOBER IN THE SOUTH ITALY CAMPAIGN. RESPONSIBLE FOR THE 105MM HOWITZER CANNONS. MADE AN ASSAULT LANDING AT ANZIO ON JANUARY 22, 1944 AND DEFENDED THE BEACHHEAD AGAINST VIOLENT GERMAN COUNTERATTACKS FOR 3 MONTHS. CONTINUED COMBAT IN THE ROME-ARNO CAMPAIGN AND ON AUGUST 15, 1944. MADE THE ASSAULT LANDING IN SOUTHERN FRANCE. PARTICIPATED IN RHINELAND, ARDENNES AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. FREED THE DACHAU CONCENTRATION CAMP AT WAR'S END. OCCUPATIONAL DUTIES IN GERMANY AND AUSTRIA UNTIL OCTOBER 9, 1945. AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN RIBBON WITH 7 STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ARMY OCCUPATIONAL MEDAL (GERMANY) AND FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM. HONORABLE DISCHARGE ON OCTOBER 18, 1945.