World War II Honoree

Cletus Ray Pound

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Emory, Texas

Honored By

Virginia Pound Nichols

Relationship

Daughter

SERGEANT. ENTERED THE MILITARY ON 4 FEBRUARY 1943 FROM TEXAS. TRAINED AS A RIFLE EXPERT AND CARBINE SHARPSHOOTER, HE ROSE TO SQUAD LEADER 745, IN CHARGE OF A SQUAD OF 11 RIFLEMEN AND RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR TRAINING AND WELFARE. HE SERVED IN THE 10TH INFANTRY AND PARTICIPATED IN BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS IN NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, ARDENNES, RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE. RECEIVED THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER RIBBON WITH 5 BRONZE STARS (FOR DISTINCTIVE HEROISM IN CONNECTION WITH MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST THE ENEMY ON 6 MARCH 1945 NEAR PICKIELSHEIN, GERMANY). DURING THE ATTACK ON PICKIELSHEIN, THE COMPANY WAS CONFRONTED BY AN UNDETERMINED NUMBER OF ENEMY TROOPS AND INTENSE FIRE FROM THE ENTRENCHED ENEMY MADE FURTHER PROGRESS IMPOSSIBLE. A SQUAD LEADER, VOLUNTARILY FORMED A SMALL PATROL AND WENT FORWARD TO RECONNOITER THE ENEMY RESISTANCE. WHILE CARRYING OUT THE PATROL ACTION, A SMALL ENEMY GROUP WAS ENCOUNTERED AND BY HIS SKILLFUL AND INTREPID LEADERSHIP, HE MADE POSSIBLE THE IMMEDIATE ANNIHILATION OF THE SMALL FORCE WHICH AIDED IMMEASURABLY IN THE SUBSEQUENT CAPITULATION OF THE ENTIRE ENEMY UNIT. HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON 7 OCTOBER 1945.