World War II Honoree

Joseph O. Fancher

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Farina, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON JULY 21, 1944 AT CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AND QUALIFIED IN THE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY OF RIFLEMAN (745). DEPARTED THE U.S. ON MARCH 7, 1945 BOUND FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. ASSIGNED TO AND SERVED WITH COMPANY I, 508TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 82ND ‘ALL AMERICAN’ AIRBORNE DIVISION IN THE CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGN AND INTO THE OCCUPATION OF GERMANY. EARNED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, PARACHUTIST BADGE, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE BATTLE STAR, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND THE ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL (GERMANY). HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ON JUNE 24, 1946 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, CAMP ATTERBURY, INDIANA.