World War II Honoree

John D. Fitzgerald

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Louisville, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON 9 DECEMBER 1942 AT CAMP GRANT, ILLINOIS. COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AND QUALIFIED AS A RIFLEMAN, MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY 745. DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. ON 2 JULY 1944 BOUND FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. FOUGHT WITH AN UNKNOWN UNIT OF THE 79TH ‘CROSS OF LORRAINE’ INFANTRY DIVISION IN THE NORMANDY AND NORTHERN FRANCE CAMPAIGNS UNTIL WOUNDED BY ENEMY ACTION ON 9 AUGUST 1944 IN FRANCE. AFTER TREATMENT AND RECUPERATION, REASSIGNED TO COMPANY L, 394TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 99TH INFANTRY DIVISION AFTER THE ARDENNES CAMPAIGN AND FOUGHT ON WITH THEM THROUGH THE RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. EARNED THE PURPLE HEART, THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, THE DISTINGUISHED UNIT BADGE (79TH DIVISION), THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE BATTLE STARS AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ON 7 OCTOBER 1945 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, CAMP GRANT, ILLINOIS.