World War II Honoree

Orlis Floyd Nealy

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Natchitoches, Louisiana

SERVED IN THE 3599TH TRUCKING COMPANY AND THE 44TH INFANTRY DIVISION. ENTERED THE U.S. ARMY OCTOBER 15, 1942 AND WAS DISCHARGED NOVEMBER 16, 1945. RECEIVED BASIC TRAINING AT CAMP POLK, LOUISIANA. THEN STATIONED IN CALIFORNIA AND FROM THERE SHIPPED BY TRAIN TO CAMP MYLES STANDISH, MASSACHUSETTS. WENT TO ENGLAND, ACROSS THE ENGLISH CHANNEL TO NORMANDY BEACH, FRANCE. JOINED THE 44TH INFANTRY DIVISION AT THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. ADVANCED THROUGH BELGIUM, GERMANY, AUSTRIA AND THE AUSTRIAN ALPS. WHEN THE 19TH GERMAN ARMY SURRENDERED TO THE 44TH INFANTRY DIVISION ON MAY 5, 1945, ASSIGNED TO THE PACIFIC THEATER WITH PASSAGE THROUGH THE U.S. WITH A 30-DAY FURLOUGH HOME FOR RECUPERATION. BOARDED THE QUEEN ELIZABETH ON JULY 15, 1945 WITH 18,000 OTHER SOLDIERS AND ARRIVED IN NEW YORK ON JULY 20, 1945. HE WAS IN NEW YORK WHEN THE ATOMIC BOMB WAS DROPPED ON HIROSHIMA, JAPAN AND ALLIED VICTORY WAS DECLARED. THEN SENT TO FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS AND DISCHARGED.