World War II Honoree

Paul Vrabel

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Portage, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Family

ENTERED SERVICE ON JANUARY 16, 1943. LEFT U.S. FOR SCOTLAND ON FEBRUARY 12, 1944. ARRIVED ON FEBRUARY 14, 1944. ARRIVED IN NORMANDY (OMAHA BEACH) ON JULY 6, 1944. BATTERY B, 480TH COAST ARTILLERY CORPS ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY; CHIEF OF SECTION 601. SERVED WITH 480TH ANTI-AIRCRAFT AUTOMATIC WEAPONS BATTALION IN EUROPEAN THEATER. SUPERVISED 14 ENLISTED MEN ENGAGED IN THE OPERATION OF 40 MM AUTOMATIC WEAPONS. RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTROL AND COORDINATION OF MEN AND WEAPONS. BATTLES IN NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, GROUND COMBAT. RECEIVED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE STARS. WOUNDED IN FRANCE ON AUGUST 30, 1944. RECEIVED THE PURPLE HEART FOR THIS WOUND. LEFT EUROPE ON NOVEMBER 25, 1945. ARRIVED IN THE U.S. ON DECEMBER 3, 1945. SEPARATED FROM THE SERVICE AT INDIANTOWN GAP, PENNSYLVANIA ON DECEMBER 9, 1945.