World War II Honoree

Forest A. J. Pruitt

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Cushing, Oklahoma

Honored By

Lellan R. Wallis

Relationship

Friend

HE ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE ON FEBRUARY 22, 1943 AND WAS ASSIGNED TO BATTERY C, 552ND COAST ARTILLERY BATTALION IN LEESVILLE, LOUISIANA BEFORE BEING TRANSFERRED BY RAIL TO NEW YORK AND THEN ABOARD THE QUEEN MARY TO FIRTH OF CLYDE, SCOTLAND, ARRIVING MARCH 1, 1944. AFTER BEING CONVEYED TO SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND FOR THE D-DAY INVASION, HIS ORDERS WERE CHANGED AND HE WAS TAKEN TO UTAH BEACH, NORMANDY, FRANCE. FROM THERE HIS BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS INCLUDED PROTECTING THE AIR BASE AT SAINTE-MERE-EGLISE, VIRE, MORTAIN AND NEAR PARIS, FRANCE; LUXEMBOURG; VERVIERS, BELGIUM; NEAR AACHEN AND KOLN, AND RODGIN, GERMANY, WHERE HE WAS IN THE DIRECT LINE OF FIRE WHEN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE BEGAN; THE RUHR RIVER NEAR SCHMIDT, GERMANY; SECURING THE BRIDGE AT REMAGEN; AND FINALLY TO CENTRAL GERMANY UNTIL GERMANY'S SURRENDER. AS A SERGEANT AND QUALIFIED MARKSMAN, HE RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE OCTOBER 31, 1945. AWARDED THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 5 BRONZE STARS.