World War II Honoree

Leo D. Yates

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Rinard, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENLISTED AND ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE ON APRIL 15, 1941 AT EAST SAINT LOUIS, ILLINOIS. TRAINED AND BEGAN SERVICE WITH THE 33RD ‘PRAIRIE’ INFANTRY DIVISION AT CAMP FORREST, TENNESSEE. TRANSFERRED TO FORT LEWIS, WASHINGTON IN SEPTEMBER, 1942 AND THEN TO NEEDLES, CALIFORNIA, IN THE SUMMER OF 1943. WHEREUPON, HE VOLUNTEERED FOR RANGER DUTY IN JULY 1943 AND RETURNED TO CAMP FORREST FOR FURTHER TRAINING WITH THE NEWLY FORMED 2ND RANGER BATTALION. TRAINING CONTINUED FOR AMPHIBIOUS OPERATIONS AT THE U.S. NAVY SCOUTS AND RAIDERS SCHOOL, FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA AND IN THE USE OF GERMAN WEAPONS AND LANGUAGE AT THE ARMY INTELLIGENCE SCHOOL AT PORT RICHEY. ARRIVED SCOTLAND IN EARLY DECEMBER 1943 AND CONTINUED TRAINING WITH SCOTTISH AND BRITISH COMMANDOS IN PREPARATION FOR THE INVASION OF FRANCE. UNIT WAS SELECTED FOR THE KEY ASSAULT ON POINTE DU HOC AT OMAHA BEACH. ENTERED COMBAT THERE ON JUNE 6, D-DAY, 1944 AND CONTINUED FIGHTING WITH HEADQUARTERS COMPANY THROUGH THE NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, ARDENNES, RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. PARTICIPATED IN THE LIBERATION OF PARIS AND EARNED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION (PRESENTED IN A FIELD CEREMONY BY GENERAL EISENHOWER), COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE ARROWHEAD AND SILVER BATTLE STAR AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A TECHNICIAN 4TH GRADE ON JULY 3, 1945.