World War II Honoree

Edward Valentine Cerny

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Chicago, Illinois

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY IN APRIL 1942 AS AN INFANTRY SECOND LIEUTENANT. SERVED WITH THE 75TH INFANTRY DIVISION IN THE AMERICAN THEATER. PARTICIPATED IN THE 4TH ARMY NO.6 LOUISIANA MANEUVERS IN JANUARY 1944. MOVED TO CAMP BRECKINRIDGE, AT MORGANFIELD, KENTUCKY IN APRIL 1944. STAGED WITH HIS UNIT AT CAMP SHANKS, AT ORANGEBURG, NEW YORK IN OCTOBER 1944 AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED FROM THE NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION ON OCTOBER 22, 1944 AND ARRIVED IN ENGLAND ON NOVEMBER 2, 1944. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER AS COMPANY COMMANDER WITH COMPANY E, 291ST INFANTRY REGIMENT, 75TH INFANTRY DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. LANDED IN FRANCE ABOUT DECEMBER 13, 1944. HIS REGIMENT WAS RUSHED TO THE FRONT DUE TO THE GERMAN ARDENNES COUNTEROFFENSIVE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE) AND ENTERED DEFENSIVE POSITIONS ALONG THE OURTHE RIVER ON DECEMBER 23, 1944. ATTACHED TO THE 3RD ARMORED DIVISION FOR OPERATIONS FROM DECEMBER 24-29, 1944 AND FOUGHT IN HEAVY COMBAT AT GRANDMENIL AND SADZOT. WOUNDED IN ACTION IN JANUARY 1945 DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH 'GERMANY' CLASP. HIS REGIMENT WAS CITED IN THE ORDER OF THE DAY OF THE BELGIAN ARMY FOR COMBAT ACTIONS IN THE ARDENNES. CONTINUED IN SERVICE AFTER THE WAR UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT WITH THE RANK OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL.