World War II Honoree

Richard Walter English

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

New Orleans, Louisiana

Honored By

Family

HONORABLY SERVED WITH THE 425 MEMBER 761ST TANK BATTALION WHICH WAS ONE OF THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN UNITS TO ENTER INTO COMBAT TO LIBERATE WESTERN EUROPE. HIS UNIT CAPTURED 30 MAJOR TOWNS IN FRANCE, BELGIUM AND GERMANY. HE RECEIVED THE PURPLE HEART ALONG WITH 276 OTHER MEMBERS OF THE UNIT AND FOR 'EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION', THE UNIT WAS AWARDED THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION IN 1978 FROM PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER AFTER 6 FORMER PRESIDENTS REJECTED HIS 30 YEAR EFFORT FOR RECOGNITION OF THIS HIGHLY ESTEEMED AWARD.