World War II Honoree

Louis J. Cerruti

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Jersey City, New Jersey

Honored By

Grateful American

SERVED IN THE 10TH ARMORED DIVISION, COMPANY B, 20TH ARMORED INFANTRY BATTALION. HIS UNIT WAS RUSHED TO DEFEND BASTOGNE AND BECAME REFERRED TO BY THE GERMANS AS 'THE GHOSTS'. HIS UNIT WAS THE FIRST TO FIGHT THE GERMANS AND WITH ONLY SEVERAL HUNDRED MEN VERSUS SEVERAL THOUSAND GERMANS IN THE ARDENNES FOREST. THEY HELD THEM OFF UNTIL THE 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION ARRIVED FROM PARIS. THIS WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF THE GERMANS' LAST MAJOR OFFENSIVE KNOWN AS THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. HE WAS AWARDED A BATTLEFIELD COMMISSION, SILVER STAR, BRONZE STAR, 2 PURPLE HEARTS, DISTINGUISHED UNIT AND THE CROIX DE GUERRE IN A SPECIAL TRIBUTE FROM BELGIUM.