World War II Honoree

Herschel P. Bishop

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Iola, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENLISTED AND ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE ON AUGUST 15, 1940 AT EAST SAINT LOUIS, ILLINOIS. COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING, QUALIFIED IN THE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY OF RIFLEMAN (745) AND ATTENDED THE ARMY MATERIAL COMMAND AND PARACHUTE SERVICE SCHOOLS. DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. ON JUNE 16, 1942 BOUND FOR ALASKA WHERE HE PARTICIPATED IN THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN. RETURNED TO THE U.S. IN MARCH 1944 FOR LEAVE AND FURTHER TRAINING, AFTER WHICH HE DEPARTED THE U.S. FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS WHERE HE WAS ASSIGNED IN EARLY FEBRUARY 1945 TO COMPANY G, 507TH PARACHUTE REGIMENT, 17TH 'THUNDER FROM HEAVEN’ AIRBORNE DIVISION, AT ITS BASE CAMP AT CHALONS-SUR-MARNE, FRANCE. ENTERED COMBAT WITH THEM SPEARHEADING THE SUCCESSFUL AIRBORNE ASSAULT ON THE RHINE RIVER (OPERATION VARSITY) ON MARCH 24, 1945 IN THE RHINELAND CAMPAIGN AND FOUGHT IN THE CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGN UNTIL END OF THE WAR IN EUROPE. EARNED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, AMERICAN DEFENSE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE BATTLE STAR, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE ARROWHEAD (AIRBORNE ASSAULT) AND 2 BRONZE BATTLE STARS AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ON SEPTEMBER 24, 1945 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, FORT SHERIDAN, ILLINOIS.