World War II Honoree

Hershell Harper

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

WORKED IN THE COAL MINES AS A MINER WHEN HE WAS CALLED TO SERVICE BY THE DRAFT. COULD HAVE BEEN DEFERRED FROM THE DRAFT DUE TO HIS WORK AS A COAL MINER WHICH WAS DEEMED ESSENTIAL BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. MADE THE DECISION TO ENTER ARMY SERVICE AND SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER IN GENERAL PATTON'S THIRD ARMY. PARTICIPATED IN THE ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE) CAMPAIGN. WOUNDED IN ACTION BY ENEMY MACHINE GUN FIRE AND SUFFERED WOUNDS TO HIS HAND, ARM, SHOULDER AND HIP. SPENT 31 DAYS IN TRACTION AND 9 MONTHS IN HOSPITALS RECUPERATING FROM HIS INJURIES AND IN PHYSICAL THERAPY. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.