World War II Honoree

Harold E. Douglass

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Akron, Ohio

Honored By

Gregory C. Douglass

Relationship

Son

SERVED AS AN OFFICER IN THE 2D ARMORED DIVISION. LANDED SOUTH OF CASABLANCA IN NOVEMBER, 1942. LATER LANDED AT OMAHA BEACH, NORMANDY, D+4, 1944, AND PARTICIPATED IN THE SUBSEQUENT ATTACK AND BREAKOUT AT ST LO. SERVED WITH THE 82D RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION, 2D ARMORED DIVISION AND WAS THE FIRST ALLIED UNIT TO ENTER BELGIUM IN SEPTEMBER, 1944. HE FOUGHT WITH HIS DIVISION IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE INCLUDING THE COUNTERATTACK IN DECEMBER,1944, BY THE DIVISION AGAINST THE GERMAN 2D PANZER AT CELLES, BELGIUM AND HE PARTICIPATED IN 1945 IN THE CLOSING OF THE RUHR POCKET AT PADERBORN, GERMANY. IN APRIL, 1945 HE WON THE SILVER STAR AND PURPLE HEART FOR HEROISM AT MAGDEBURG, GERMANY WHEN HE LEAD THE FIRST ALLIED UNIT INTO THE CITY, LOCATED ON THE ELBE RIVER, THE POINT OF FARTHEST ADVANCE IN GERMANY OF THE WESTERN ALLIES.