World War II Honoree

Richard W. Ensign

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Burton, Ohio

Honored By

Norine Ensign

Relationship

Wife

ENTERED THE ARMY ON AUGUST 12, 1943. HE WAS A PRIVATE FIRST CLASS IN C BATTERY OF THE 863D ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY AUTOMATIC WEAPONS BATTALION WHOSE ASSIGNMENTS INCLUDED THE DEFENSE OF AIRPORTS, SEAPORTS AND BRIDGES IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER. TRAINED AT CAMP WALLACE IN TEXAS, WAS TRANSPORTED TO SCOTLAND ON THE QUEEN MARY, AND TRAVELED THROUGH THE UNITED KINGDOM. CROSSED THE ENGLISH CHANNEL FROM ROMSEY, ENGLAND BEGINNING JULY 11,1944. LANDED AT OMAHA BEACH ON JULY 12, 1944, WENT THROUGH FRANCE, BELGIUM, LUXEMBOURG AND INTO GERMANY. PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. THEIR UNIT RECEIVED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ARMED CONFLICT IN THE KALTERHERBERG AREA, HOLDING OFF GERMAN COUNTERATTACKS FROM DECEMBER 16-23, DECEMBER 1944. WAS DISCHARGED DECEMBER 25, 1945.