World War II Honoree

Burton Phillip Freireich

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Chicago, Illinois

Honored By

Ursula Freireich

Relationship

Wife

DRAFTED AT AGE 18, AFTER COMPLETING HIS FRESHMAN YEAR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS IN JULY 1943. HAD 9 WEEKS BASIC TRAINING AT FORT CUSTER, MICHIGAN. WAS SENT TO PAPAGO PARK IN ARIZONA AS MILITARY POLICE GUARDING GERMAN PRISONERS OF WAR. IN JUNE 1944, WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 78TH INFANTRY DIVISION AND SENT OVERSEAS. CROSSED THE REMAGEN BRIDGE AND WAS IN COMBAT IMMEDIATELY, 3 DAYS BEFORE THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART, BRONZE STAR, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE AND THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 STARS.