World War II Honoree

Reginald L. Cox

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Smithers, West Virginia

Honored By

Bert W. Hudson

Relationship

Nephew

PRIVATE. SERVED IN COMPANY A, 141ST INFANTRY REGIMENT, 36TH TEXAS DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE LIBERATION OF SOUTHERN FRANCE FROM JULY 1, 1944 TO SEPT 12, 1944. SUSTAINED A SEVERE LEG WOUND ON SEPTEMBER 12, 1944. HE WAS ON SCOUTING DUTY WHEN WOUNDED; LAID IN A GERMAN CONTROLLED AREA FOR NEARLY AN ENTIRE DAY WITHOUT MEDICAL TREATMENT. IN THE LATE EVENING A U.S. SOLDIER, WHO WAS COLLECTING THE BODIES OF DEAD AMERICAN SOLDIERS, DISCOVERED THAT HE WAS ALIVE AND SUMMONED MEDICAL PERSONNEL. HIS WOUNDS REQUIRED MULTIPLE SURGERIES AND REHABILITATION TREATMENT AT ARMY HOSPITALS IN FRANCE, ITALY AND THE U.S. IN JULY 1945 HE WAS RELEASED FROM AN ARMY HOSPITAL IN STANTON, VIRGINIA GIVEN AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE AND AWARDED A VETERANS ADMINISTRATION DISABILITY PENSION. IN RECOGNITION OF HIS HEROIC SERVICE HE WAS AWARDED THE FOLLOWING DECORATIONS: EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER RIBBON, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, MARKSMANSHIP RIBBON, PURPLE HEART, BRONZE STAR FOR VALOR AND THE FRENCH LIBERATION MEDAL.