World War II Honoree

Ardys B. 'Art' Feller

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Octavia, Nebraska

Honored By

Joe Arsena

Relationship

Baseball Fan

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE AT THE END OF THE 1943 BASEBALL SEASON. ASSIGNED TO AN INFANTRY TRAINING UNIT AT CAMP BLANDING, FLORIDA, WHERE HE ATTAINED THE RANK OF CORPORAL AND SERVED AS AN INSTRUCTOR. IN JULY 1944, HE WAS SENT TO ITALY WITH THE 142ND INFANTRY REGIMENT, 36TH INFANTRY DIVISION. STATIONED FOR SIX WEEKS IN ITALY BEFORE HIS DIVISION WAS TRANSFERRED TO FRANCE. THE 36TH INFANTRY DIVISION FOUGHT THE ENEMY IN THE VOSGES REGION OF FRANCE. THEY MET WITH BITTER RESISTANCE IN THE THICK WILDERNESS AND THERE WERE CONSTANT FIERCE CLASHES WITH GERMAN UNITS. THE 28-YEAR-OLD FORMER CATCHER WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON SEPTEMBER 29, 1944. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART.