World War II Honoree

Marion W. Coleman

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Louisville, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON AUGUST 5, 1942 AT SCOTT FIELD, ILLINOIS. SELECTED FOR THE INFANTRY, COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING, QUALIFIED IN THE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES OF RIFLEMAN AND MESS SERGEANT (745 AND 824 RESPECTIVELY). ASSIGNED TO COMPANY D, 311TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 78TH ‘LIGHTNING’ INFANTRY DIVISION AND TRAINED FURTHER WITH THEM AT CAMP PICKETT, VIRGINIA. DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. WITH HIS UNIT ON OCTOBER 14, 1944 BOUND FOR FURTHER TRAINING IN ENGLAND. ENTERED COMBAT IN THE HUERTGEN FORREST JUST BEFORE THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE BEGAN. FOUGHT THROUGH ARDENNES, RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. EARNED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE BATTLE STARS AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A STAFF SERGEANT ON DECEMBER 2, 1945 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, CAMP GRANT, ILLINOIS.