World War II Honoree

Orville L. Boyd

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Flora, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON JULY 21, 1944 AT FORT SHERIDAN, ILLINOIS. COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AND QUALIFIED IN THE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY OF RIFLEMAN (745). DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. ON NEW YEAR’S DAY, 1945 BOUND FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. ASSIGNED TO AND FOUGHT WITH COMPANY K, 222ND INFANTRY REGIMENT, 42ND ‘RAINBOW’ INFANTRY DIVISION THROUGH ARDENNES, RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. EARNED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE BATTLE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND THE ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL (GERMANY). HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ON JUNE 4, 1946 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, FORT SHERIDAN, ILLINOIS.