World War II Honoree

Delbert W. Hart

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Flora, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON MAY 22, 1942 AT EAST SAINT LOUIS, ILLINOIS. AFTER BASIC TRAINING AND SPECIALIZATION AS A GENERAL MECHANIC (121) ASSIGNED TO SERVICE COMPANY, 349TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 88TH INFANTRY ‘LIBERTY AND RIGHTS’ DIVISION. AFTER SMALL UNIT TRAINING AT CAMP GRUBER, OKLAHOMA AND PARTICIPATION IN LARGE SCALE WAR EXERCISES, DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. ON APRIL 29, 1943 AS PART OF THE DIVISION'S ADVANCED DEPLOYMENT ELEMENTS. ENTERED COMBAT WITH THE ENTIRE DIVISION ON MARCH 4, 1943 AND FOUGHT IN THE NAPLES-FOGGIA, ROME-ARNO, NORTHERN APENNINES AND PO VALLEY CAMPAIGNS. WOUNDED IN ACTION ON OCTOBER 6, 1944 DURING THE BATTLE FOR MONTE BATTAGLIA. EARNED THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE BATTLE STARS AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A TECHNICIAN 5TH GRADE ON OCTOBER 7, 1945 AT FORT SHERIDAN, ILLINOIS.