World War II Honoree

Louis J. Prince

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Nashua, New Hampshire

Honored By

Roger L. Prince

Relationship

Son

CORPORAL. ENLISTED IN THE U.S. ARMY NATIONAL GUARD IN SEPTEMBER 1940 AND TRAINED AT CAMP HULEN, TEXAS. AFTER SERVING ONE YEAR, WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED. RECALLED TO SERVICE IN APRIL OF 1942 AND SERVED IN THE FIRST FORMED ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY BATTALION IN U.S. HISTORY, THE 443RD UNIT. BECAME A GUNNER AND APPOINTED TO GUN COMMANDER OF A HALF TRACK WITH A CREW OF 5 MEN. THE HALF TRACK HAD 4 MOUNTED QUAD 50 MACHINE GUNS, WHICH PROTECTED THE TROOPS FROM AIRCRAFT AND THE INFANTRY. COMBAT DUTY FOR 2 1/2 YEARS, WHICH INCLUDED A STRETCH OF 133 STRAIGHT DAYS OF COMBAT WITHOUT RELIEF. DISCHARGED FROM THE SERVICE IN APRIL 1945 ON THE POINTS SYSTEM. ATTACHED TO SEVERAL DIVISIONS: 1ST AND 2ND ARMORED DIVISIONS, AND THE 3RD, 9TH, 34TH, 36TH, 45TH, 85TH AND 88TH INFANTRY DIVISIONS. SERVED WITH 4 DIFFERENT ARMIES: 3RD, 5TH, 7TH AND THE 1ST FRENCH. SERVED IN CAMPAIGNS OF ALGERIA-FRENCH MOROCCO, TUNISIA, SICILY, NAPLES-FOGGIA, ROME-ARNO, SOUTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE AND CENTRAL EUROPE. MADE AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULTS ON ALGERIA-FRENCH MOROCCO, SICILY AND SOUTHERN FRANCE. RECEIVED GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, BRONZE STAR, GRAND CROSS OF HOMAGE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, MERITORIOUS SERVICE UNIT AWARD, AND EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS RIBBON WITH 9 BATTLE STARS AND 3 ARROWHEADS.