World War II Honoree

Buford Wayne Potts

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Honored By

Mrs. Zella P. Raney

Relationship

Sister

ENLISTED AND ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE ON MARCH 17, 1942. COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AT CAMP CLAIBORNE, LOUISIANA. QUALIFIED IN THE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY OF RIFLEMAN (745) AND ASSIGNED TO THE 82ND INFANTRY DIVISION (WHICH HAD RECENTLY BEEN REACTIVATED THERE AND WAS RE-DESIGNATED IN AUGUST AS THE 82ND ‘ALL AMERICAN’ AIRBORNE DIVISION). IN OCTOBER, THE DIVISION MOVED TO FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA TO PURSUE AIRBORNE TRAINING OBJECTIVES INCLUDING THE CREATION OF THE 325TH GLIDER INFANTRY REGIMENT, TO WHICH HE WAS ASSIGNED. DEPLOYED TO NORTH AFRICA IN MAY 1943 FOR TRAINING AT CASABLANCA. ENTERED COMBAT FROM AN AMPHIBIOUS LANDING TO REINFORCE PARATROOPER ELEMENTS OF THE DIVISION IN THE SICILY CAMPAIGN AND AGAIN ON SEPTEMBER 15, 1943 WHEN THE 325TH REGIMENT LANDED BY BOAT AT THE SALERNO BEACHHEAD. AT THE END OF THE NAPLES-FOGGIA CAMPAIGN, RE-DEPLOYED TO IRELAND IN NOVEMBER TO BEGIN PREPARATION FOR OPERATION NEPTUNE, THE AIRBORNE ASSAULT PART OF THE INVASION OF FRANCE ON JUNE 6, 1944. ENTERED COMBAT VIA A GLIDER ASSAULT LANDING IN NORMANDY ON D-DAY PLUS 1 AND RETURNED TO ENGLAND ON JULY 13 TO PREPARE FOR OPERATION MARKET GARDEN. MADE A SECOND GLIDER ASSAULT LANDING IN VICINITY OF THE NIJMEGEN BRIDGE IN HOLLAND. ALSO SAW COMBAT IN THE ARDENNES (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. EARNED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, GLIDER BADGE, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE ARROWHEADS (GLIDER ASSAULT LANDINGS) AND 6 BRONZE BATTLE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND THE FRENCH FOURRAGERE. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A CORPORAL ON SEPTEMBER 23, 1945 AT CAMP ATTERBURY, INDIANA.