World War II Honoree

Willis Pike

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Fulton County, Ohio

Honored By

William J. Elser

Relationship

Fellow Veteran & VA Volunteer

ENLISTED FROM FULTON COUNTY COURTHOUSE AND TRANSFERRED TO CAMP WOLTERS, TEXAS NEAR MINERAL WELLS. SELECTED FOR OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL (OCS) AND COMMISSIONED A 2ND LIEUTENANT ON SEPTEMBER 18, 1942. EMBARKED FROM NEW YORK ON THE QUEEN ELIZABETH DECEMBER 28, 1942 AND ARRIVED IN SCOTLAND. ASSIGNED TO THE 29TH INFANTRY 'BLUE AND GRAY' DIVISION. WITH COMPANY A, 115TH REGIMENT, LANDED ON FOX GREEN BEACHHEAD ON JUNE 6, 1944 AND REINFORCED THE 116TH REGIMENT'S FIRST WAVE OF ASSAULT. WOUNDED ON JUNE 18, 1944 AND WAS MEDICALLY EVACUATED BACK TO ENGLAND. RIGHT ARM WAS PERMANENTLY DISABLED. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL, THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE ARROWHEAD AND BRONZE BATTLE STAR FOR NORMANDY, THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL, THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH THE 115TH INFANTRY REGIMENT AND THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE.