World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Fred M. Harmon
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Columbia, South Carolina
Honored By
Robert S. Cox
STAGED WITH HIS REGIMENT AT CAMP PATRICK HENRY AT ORIANA, VIRGINIA ON MAY 7, 1944 AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED OVERSEAS FROM THE HAMPTON ROADS PORT OF EMBARKATION ON MAY 17, 1944. SERVED IN THE AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATERS AS A PLATOON SERGEANT PARATROOPER WITH THE 517TH AIRBORNE INFANTRY REGIMENT. HIS REGIMENT PARTICIPATED IN THE SOUTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE) AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. HIS REGIMENT ASSAULTED SOUTHERN FRANCE ON AUGUST 15, 1944 AND TOOK ST. VALLIER ON AUGUST 24, 1944. DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE, HIS UNIT WAS ATTACHED TO THE 30TH INFANTRY 'OLD HICKORY' DIVISION FROM DECEMBER 17-27, 1944 AND OPERATED IN THE MALMEDY-STAVELOT SECTOR IN BELGIUM IN HEAVY FIGHTING. ATTACHED TO THE 82ND AIRBORNE 'ALL AMERICAN' DIVISION FROM JANUARY 1-11, 1945 AND TOOK PART IN THE ATTACK NORTHEAST OF BRA TO SALM AND COMTE IN BELGIUM. ATTACHED TO THE 106TH INFANTRY 'GOLDEN LION' DIVISION AND FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE TO TAKE HENUMONT, BELGIUM ON JANUARY 13, 1945. ATTACHED TO THE 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION FROM JANUARY 23-26 AND AGAIN FROM FEBRUARY 3-4, 1945 AND OPERATED IN THE HERRESBACH, GERMANY AREA AND ATTACKED THE 'WEST WALL.' MOVED TO THE BERGSTEIN, GERMANY AREA ON FEBRUARY 4, 1945 AND ATTACKED THROUGH A HEAVILY-MINED AREA TOWARD THE SCHMIDT-NIDEGGEN ROAD WHILE ATTACHED TO THE 78TH INFANTRY 'LIGHTNING' DIVISION. ATTACHED TO THE 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION FROM FEBRUARY 9-10, 1945 AND BATTLED IN THE DRIVE TO THE ROHR RIVER. ATTACHED TO AND THEN ASSIGNED TO THE 13TH AIRBORNE DIVISION BEGINNING FEBRUARY 11, 1945 UNTIL THE END OF THE WAR. WOUNDED IN ACTION ON 3 OCCASIONS AND AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART WITH 2 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS. ALSO AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, PARACHUTIST BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE ARROWHEAD DEVICE AND 4 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL. AWARDED THE FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH GOLD STAR FOR ACTIONS BY HIS REGIMENT AT DRAGUIGNAN, FRANCE AND HIS UNIT WAS CITED IN THE ORDER OF THE DAY OF THE BELGIAN ARMY FOR ACTION IN THE ARDENNES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF SERGEANT FIRST CLASS AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.