World War II Honoree

Byron Dean Ervin

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Pateros, Washington

Honored By

Lt. Col. Charles T. Borg, USA (Ret.)

Relationship

Family Friend

ENLISTED FOR NAVAL AVIATION IN 1942 BUT WAS DISCHARGED FOR A PHYSICAL CONDITION DISCOVERED DURING ADVANCED AERIAL MANEUVERS. IN 1943, ENLISTED IN U.S. ARMY AND WAS ASSIGNED TO 79TH INFANTRY 'CROSS OF LORRAINE' DIVISION AS A FORWARD OBSERVED IN FIELD ARTILLERY. IN APRIL 1944 ARRIVED IN ENGLAND TO PREPARE FOR THE INVASION OF EUROPE. ON JUNE 12, 1944 (D-DAY + 6), LANDED AT UTAH BEACH, NORMANDY, FRANCE AND ENTERED INTO COMBAT. INVOLVED IN HEAVY FIGHTING ACROSS FRANCE AND INTO BELGIUM DURING 1944-1945 WHICH INVOLVED NUMEROUS HEAVILY OPPOSED RIVER CROSSINGS. THE 79TH MOVED TO THE MAGINOT LINE TO SET UP DEFENSES TO REPEL GERMAN ATTACKS DURING HITLER'S OPERATION NORTH WIND 'BATTLE OF THE BULGE.' IN 1945 FOUGHT IN NORTHEASTERN FRANCE AT HATTEN AND RITTERSHOFFEN AND CROSSED INTO GERMANY TO CLEAR THE RHUR POCKET. GERMANY SURRENDERED IN EARLY MAY 1945 AND THE 79TH WENT INTO OCCUPATION DUTY. DISCHARGED IN 1945 WITH THE RANK OF SERGEANT. RECEIVED PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN THEATER MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER MEDAL WITH 4 BATTLE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL.