World War II Honoree

Philip A. Forte

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Queens, New York

Honored By

Marie

Relationship

Wife

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS. SERVED IN THE INFANTRY, BASIC TRAINING, SPARTANBURG, NORTH CAROLINA. ASSIGNED TO THE 8TH INFANTRY DIVISION, 13TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, C COMPANY. AFTER COMBAT TRAINING IN IRELAND HE LANDED ON UTAH BEACH, NORMANDY FRANCE ON JULY 4, 1944 AND ENTERED COMBAT ON JULY 7. FIGHTING THROUGH THE HEDGEROWS, HE CROSSED THE AY RIVER ON JULY 26, PUSHED THROUGH RENNES ON AUGUST 8 AND ATTACKED BREST, FRANCE. IN SEPTEMBER. HE CROSSED FRANCE TO LUXEMBOURG, MOVED TO BELGIUM AND THE BATTLE OF HUERTGEN FOREST ON NOVEMBER 20. HE CLEARED HUERTGEN ON NOVEMBER 28 AND BRANDENBURG ON DECEMBER 3. GERMAN FORCES BEGAN THE ARDENNES OFFENSIVE, KNOWN AS THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. HE CROSSED THE ROER RIVER ON FEBRUARY 23, 1945. REACHED THE RHINE RIVER ON MARCH 7 NEAR COLOGNE, GERMANY. HE WAS WOUNDED ON APRIL 4 DURING ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT BATTLES OF THE WAR AND THE LARGEST IN UNITED STATES HISTORY. HE WAS MOVED TO CUSHING GENERAL HOSPITAL IN MASSACHUSETTS. AWARDS: PURPLE HEART, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN MEDAL WITH 2 BATTLE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, MARKSMAN M1 RIFLE.