World War II Honoree

Roy Donald Much

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Alvin, Texas

Honored By

Kathleen Much

Relationship

Niece

SERVED WITH THE 987TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION. SUPPORTED BRITISH TROOPS IN THE INVASION OF NORMANDY AT GOLD BEACH. THE 987TH SPENT JUNE 1944 SUPPORTING BRITISH OPERATIONS IN THE VICINITY OF BAYEUX AND CAEN, THEN WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE U.S. 1ST ARMY. IT SERVED IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE AND HUERTGEN FOREST. THE BATTALION SPENT SOME TIME SUPPLYING ARTILLERY SUPPORT IN THE HEDGEROW COUNTRY, THEN JOINED WITH THE 2ND ARMORED DIVISION TO HELP BLUDGEON AN OPENING IN THE GERMAN DEFENSES NEAR ST. LO, THE BREAKTHROUGH THE ALLIED ARMIES NEEDED TO START SWEEPING ACROSS FRANCE. ON AUGUST 6, THE BATTALION ASSISTED THE 30TH INFANTRY DIVISION IN REPULSING A GERMAN COUNTERATTACK NEAR MORTAIN. THAT DELAY DROPPED THE 987TH BEHIND THE SPEARHEAD OF THE ATTACK, BUT THEY CAUGHT UP WITH THE 5TH ARMORED DIVISION ON AUGUST 25 AND WITH IT MOVED THROUGH PARIS AND ACROSS NORTHERN FRANCE. FOR THE 11 MONTHS FROM D-DAY UNTIL THE GERMANS SURRENDERED IN MAY 1945, THE BATTALION WAS IN THE FRONT ALL BUT 5 DAYS FOR REST. THE 987TH WAS WITH THE 5TH ARMORED WHEN IT BECAME THE FIRST UNIT TO REACH THE SIEGFRIED LINE, WHERE IT KNOCKED OUT 11 PILLBOXES AND HELPED THE 5TH CROSS INTO GERMANY. IN MAY 1945, B BATTERY LINKED WITH THE U.S. 3RD ARMY AND WENT INTO CZECHOSLOVAKIA TO THE VILLAGE OF PLZEN; IT WAS THERE WHEN THE GERMANS SURRENDERED. OCCUPATION DUTY WAS MOSTLY IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA.