World War II Honoree

Bernard L. Pittman

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Flora, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON OCTOBER 20, 1942 AT CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. AFTER BASIC TRAINING, ATTENDED THE ARMY SPECIALIZED TRAINING PROGRAM FOR BASIC ENGINEER 3 AT JOHN HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND; QUALIFIED IN THE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY OF CANNONEER (844); AND WAS ASSIGNED TO BATTERY C, OF THE INDEPENDENT 196TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION (105 MM HOWITZER). DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. WITH HIS UNIT ON FEBRUARY 10, 1944 BOUND FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. LANDED AT UTAH BEACH ON JULY 8, 1944 AND ENTERED COMBAT THE NEXT DAY NEAR CARENTAN. FOUGHT THROUGH THE NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, ARDENNES, RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS WITH HIS UNIT ASSIGNED TO SUPPORT ARMY-LEVEL OR HIGHER OPERATIONS AS NEEDED. EARNED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH ONE SILVER BATTLE STAR AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ON DECEMBER 1, 1945 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, CAMP GRANT, ILLINOIS.