World War II Honoree

George E. Erwin

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Flora, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON DECEMBER 18, 1942 AT FORT SHERIDAN, ILLINOIS. AFTER BASIC TRAINING AT CAMP CALLAN, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNED TO BATTERY D, 129TH COAST ARTILLERY ANTI-AIRCRAFT BATTALION WHEN IT WAS ACTIVATED AT FORT BLISS, TEXAS ON MAY 24, 1943. EVENTUALLY, BECAME A CHIEF RADAR OPERATOR (MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY 514) AND DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. FOR ENGLAND ON DECEMBER 29, 1943. ENTERED COMBAT IN DEFENSE OF THE PORT OF FOLKESTONE, ENGLAND ON MARCH 7, 1944. FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN AND THE NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, ARDENNES, RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. BATTERY WAS CREDITED WITH 15 ENEMY PLANES KILLED (BATTALION WITH 42) AND WAS CITED BY GENERAL PATTON. EARNED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH ONE SILVER AND ONE BRONZE BATTLE STAR, THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A SERGEANT ON NOVEMBER 9, 1945 AT FORT SHERIDAN, ILLINOIS.