World War II Honoree

Frank W. Racz

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

New Carlisle, Indiana

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

DRAFTED INTO SERVICE IN AUGUST, 1942. TOOK BASIC TRAINING AT CAMP WOLTERS, MINERAL WELLS, TEXAS AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 35TH ENGINEER COMBAT REGIMENT. JOINED HIS UNIT NEAR DAWSON CREEK, CANADA AND HELPED BUILD A PORTION OF THE ALASKAN-CANADIAN (ALCAN) HIGHWAY TO FORT SIMPSON. RELOCATED WITH HIS UNIT TO CAMP WHITE AT MEDFORD, OREGON ON SEPTEMBER 1, 1943 WHERE IT WAS REDESIGNATED AS THE 35TH ENGINEER COMBAT BATTALION ON SEPTEMBER 25, 1943. HIS UNIT WAS ORDERED TO CAMP SHANKS, ORANGEBURG, NEW YORK IN APRIL, 1944 IN PREPARATION FOR OVERSEAS MOVEMENT. SAILED FROM NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION ON JULY 2, 1944 AND ARRIVED IN ENGLAND ON JULY 12, 1944. STAGED IN ENGLAND UNTIL LANDING IN NORMANDY, FRANCE ON AUGUST 7, 1944. PARTICIPATED IN THE NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH 'GERMANY' CLASP. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1945 AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.