World War II Honoree

Omer L. Coble

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Van Buren, Arkansas

Honored By

Ms. Edna Coble

Relationship

Wife

Drafted from Crawford County, Arkansas at age 21. Entered the service December 1, 1941 for what was supposed to be a short standard enlistment, but Pearl Harbor was bombed six days later. Shipped directly overseas after basic training in Fort Knox, Kentucky. Assigned to 1st Armored Division, 701st Tank Destroyer Battalion, Company B, 1st Platoon. Tank Driver Gunner T-4. Invaded North Africa, December 8, 1942 and remained there for four months. Spent over 606 days under fire, most of the time with little or no food, even reduced to eating grass on occasion. Received a British Ration that was intended to feed 14 men one meal, which was used to feed 44 men for one day. This was his food supply for months at a time. One of only six men from his Platoon to survive and return home with the distinction of being the first person honorably discharged after the war from Crawford County.