World War II Honoree

Donald C. Coppedge

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Vinita, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED AS A PRIVATE FIRST CLASS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH THE 349TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 88TH INFANTRY 'BLUE DEVILS' DIVISION. KILLED IN ACTION ON OCTOBER 17, 1944 DURING THE NORTH APENNINES CAMPAIGN IN ITALY. PARTICIPATED IN OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS ALONG THE SANTERNO RIVER VALLEY TOWARD IMOLA. FOUGHT ON MOUNT ACUTO, AND HIS UNIT SEIZED MOUNT PRATOLUNGO AND MOUNT DEL PUNTALE AND CAPTURED BELVEDORE ON OCTOBER 1, 1944, AND SASSOLEONE ON OCTOBER 3, 1944. TOOK PART IN THE BATTLE FOR MOUNT DELLE TOMBE BEGINNING ON OCTOBER 11, 1944 AND HIS UNIT WAS PUSHING TOWARD THE MOUNT CUCCOLI-MOUNT GRANDE RANGE AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.