World War II Honoree

Herschel T. Fry

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Clay City, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON NOVEMBER 11, 1942 AT CAMP GRANT, ILLINOIS. SELECTED FOR THE FIELD ARTILLERY, COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AND QUALIFIED IN THE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY OF HEAVY MACHINE GUNNER (605). ASSIGNED TO BATTERY B, 230TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION, 30TH ‘OLD HICKORY’ INFANTRY DIVISION. CONTINUED TRAINING AT CAMP BLANDING, FLORIDA; CAMP FORREST, TENNESSEE AND CAMP ATTERBURY, INDIANA AND THEN DEPARTED WITH HIS UNIT FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ON FEBRUARY 12, 1944. ENTERED COMBAT VIA OMAHA BEACH ON D-DAY PLUS 4 AND FOUGHT THROUGH THE NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, ARDENNES, RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. EARNED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 SILVER BATTLE STAR, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL (GERMANY) AND THE FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ON OCTOBER 20, 1945 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, CAMP GRANT, ILLINOIS.