World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
LaFayette B. Adams
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Columbia, South Carolina
Honored By
Robert S. Cox
STAGED WITH HIS REGIMENT AT CAMP PATRICK HENRY AT ORIANA, VIRGINIA ON NOVEMBER 23, 1943 AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. DEPARTED THE HAMPTON ROADS PORT OF EMBARKATION ON DECEMBER 3, 1943 AND ARRIVED AT CASABLANCA, MOROCCO ON DECEMBER 20, 1943. MOVED TO MAGENTA, ALGERIA FOR TRAINING PRIOR TO ENTRY INTO COMBAT. SERVED AS A FIRST LIEUTENANT IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH THE 350TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 88TH INFANTRY 'BLUE DEVILS' DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE ROME-ARNO AND NORTH APENNINES CAMPAIGNS. LANDED AT NAPLES, ITALY ON FEBRUARY 12, 1944 AND STAGED IN THE PIEDMONT D'ALIFE AREA. ENTERED COMBAT ON MOUNT CASTELLONE ON FEBRUARY 28, 1944. MOVED WITH HIS REGIMENT TO POSITIONS ALONG THE GARIGLIANO RIVER NEAR MINTURNO ON MARCH 5, 1944 AND WENT INTO DEFENSIVE POSITIONS TO PROTECT THE CITY. ATTACKED TOWARD ROME ON MAY 11, 1944 AGAINST STRONG OPPOSITION AND ADVANCED FROM ROCCA SECCA ACROSS THE AMASENO VALLEY ON MAY 26, 1944. PUSHED THROUGH ROME ON JUNE 4, 1944 ALONG THE VIA PRENESTINA AND CONTINUED ACROSS THE TIBER RIVER TO BASSANELIO. WENT INTO DEFENSIVE POSITIONS NEAR POMERANCE ON JULY 5, 1944. ATTACKED AND TOOK THE TOWN OF VOLTERRA ON JULY 9, 1944. TOOK PART IN CLEARING OPERATIONS IN THE REGION BELOW THE ARNO RIVER IN HEAVY COMBAT FROM JULY 20-25, 1944. HIS UNIT WAS SENT TO ASSIST IN LIVORNO OPERATIONS ON AUGUST 21, 1944. CROSSED THE ARNO RIVER ON SEPTEMBER 1, 1944 AND ADVANCED ALONG THE SANTERNO RIVER VALLEY TOWARD IMOLA BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 21, 1944. BATTLED ON MOUNT ACUTO AND REPULSED COUNTERATTACKS ON SEPTEMBER 24, 1944. KILLED IN ACTION ON SEPTEMBER 26, 1944 DURING OPERATIONS TO SEIZE MOUNT PRATOLUNGO AND MOUNT DEL PUNTALE AGAINST STRONG GERMAN OPPOSITION. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM FOR ACTIONS BY THE 88TH DIVISION IN CENTRAL ITALY.