World War II Honoree

Lester N. Funderburk

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Lancaster, South Carolina

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH COMPANY G, 2ND BATTALION, 38TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 2ND INFANTRY 'INDIANHEAD' DIVISION. SAILED FROM THE NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION ON OCTOBER 8, 1943 AND ARRIVED IN ENGLAND ON OCTOBER 19, 1943. PARTICIPATED IN THE NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH 'GERMANY' CLASP. AUTHORIZED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS UNIT AT KRINKELT. ALSO AUTHORIZED THE FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH GOLD STAR FOR ACTIONS BY HIS UNIT AT BREST, AND THE BELGIAN FOURRAGERE FOR HIS UNIT BEING CITED TWICE IN THE ORDER OF THE DAY OF THE BELGIAN ARMY FOR ACTIONS IN THE ARDENNES AND AT ELSENBORN CREST. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF SERGEANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.