World War II Honoree

Albert Willis Eshelman

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Pawnee, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

HIS UNIT SAILED FROM THE NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION ON FEBRUARY 11, 1944 AND ARRIVED IN ENGLAND ON FEBRUARY 23, 1944. HIS DIVISION LANDED ACROSS UTAH BEACH IN NORMANDY, FRANCE ON JULY 25, 1944. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER, IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) WITH B COMPANY, 81ST TANK BATTALION, 5TH ARMORED 'VICTORY' DIVISION DURING THE WAR. HIS BATTALION PARTICIPATED IN THE NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. THEN SERVED WITH OCCUPATION FORCES AFTER THE END OF HOSTILITIES. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH ‘GERMANY’ CLASP. ALSO AWARDED THE LUXEMBOURG CROIX DE GUERRE FOR BRAVERY IN THE FACE OF THE ENEMY BY HIS UNIT IN LUXEMBOURG. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF CORPORAL AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON. REENTERED U.S. ARMY SERVICE AND SERVED ON ACTIVE DUTY AFTER THE WAR UNTIL AGAIN HONORABLY DISCHARGED.