World War II Honoree

Alvin Henry Freesemann

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Watertown, South Dakota

Honored By

Calvin Peterson

Relationship

Son-in-law

ENTERED SERVICE AT FORT SNELLING, MINNESOTA ON JULY 26, 1944 AT 20 YEARS OLD. TRAINED AS AN INFANTRYMAN. ARRIVED OVERSEAS ON JANUARY 11, 1945 AND SERVED IN GERMANY, FRANCE AND BELGIUM FOR 20 MONTHS. HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTROL AND COORDINATION OF LIGHT MORTAR CREWS. ALSO ACTED AS 1ST SERGEANT OF A MOTOR POOL PERFORMING DUTIES OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER. HELD THE RANK OF STAFF SERGEANT FOR 11 MONTHS PRIOR TO DISCHARGE. SERVED IN THE 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE DRIVE ACROSS GERMANY, CROSSING THE RHINE RIVER AT REMAGEN. LAST DUTIES IN GERMANY WERE IN NUREMBERG DURING THE WAR CRIME TRIBUNALS. SEPARATED FROM SERVICE AT THE FORT SHERIDAN SEPARATION CENTER 32 ON NOVEMBER 9, 1946. RECEIVED THE BRONZE STAR FOR SERVICE, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN WITH 2 BRONZE BATTLE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL (GERMANY) AND THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE.