World War II Honoree

Arlis Elden Owens

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

El Paso, Arkansas

Honored By

VFW Post 2935, North Little Rock, AR

DRAFTED ON JANUARY 15, 1943; SAILED WITH THE 250TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION ARRIVING IN ENGLAND IN FEBRUARY 1944 ON THE BRITISH SHIP, DOMINION MONARCH. LANDED ON NORMANDY ON JULY 24, 1944 TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ST. LO BREAKTHROUGH. THE BATTALION WAS ATTACHED TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT UNITS INCLUDING THE 2ND FRENCH ARMORED DIVISION, BUT WAS ALWAYS WHERE THE FIGHTING WAS THE HOTTEST THROUGHOUT FRANCE AND GERMANY. THE BATTALION ASSISTED IN THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GERMAN 7TH ARMY IN THE ARGENTAN-FALAISE GAP AND RECEIVED THE 2ND FRENCH ARMORED DIVISION BRIGADE CITATION. THE BATTALION WAS IN COMBAT FOR 297 DAYS WITHOUT RELIEF. RECEIVED THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATRE CAMPAIGN RIBBON WITH 4 BRONZE STARS (FOR NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE), AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.