World War II Honoree

Samuel Gilbert

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Chambersburg, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Audrey F. Gilbert

Relationship

Wife

AT AGE 17 AFTER EARLY GRADUATION FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN LATE 1943 ENLISTED IN THE ARMY SPECIALIZED TRAINING PROGRAM AT LEHIGH UNIVERSITY. TURNED 18 AFTER 2 SEMESTERS AT LEHIGH AND WAS ASSIGNED TO CAMP BLANDING, FLORIDA FOR BASIC INFANTRY TRAINING. EARLY IN BASIC WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE INFANTRY ENGINEERS 'PIONEERS' AND SPECIALIZED IN ROAD AND BRIDGE BUILDING USING NATURAL MATERIALS. ALSO TRAINED IN USE OF HIGH EXPLOSIVES TO DEMOLISH BRIDGES. SEPT 1944 ASSIGNED TO COMPANY C, 59TH ARMORED INFANTRY, 13TH ARMORED 'BLACK CAT' DIVISION. LANDED IN LE HAVRE, FRANCE IN JANUARY 1945. SERVED WITH CHARLEY COMPANY AS THEY ADVANCED WITH THE 1ST, 3RD AND 7TH ARMIES FROM LE HAVRE THROUGH FRANCE AND GERMANY INTO AUSTRIA WHERE THE WAR IN EUROPE ENDED. COMBAT EXPERIENCES BEING TASK FORCE POINT, LOST BEHIND ENEMY LINES, ESTABLISHED BRIDGE HEADS AND ALMOST GETTING INTO BERLIN. AWARDED THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BATTLE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AND COMBAT INFANTRY BADGE. THE 13TH ARMORED DIVISION WAS THE FIRST ORDERED FROM EUROPE TO THE PACIFIC. AFTER 30 DAYS LEAVE REPORTED TO 13 ARMORED DIVISION HEADQUARTERS AT CAMP COOKE CALIFORNIA TO PREPARE FOR THE INVASION OF JAPANESE MAIN ISLANDS OF HONSHU AND ATTACK TOKYO (OPERATION CORONET 1946). JAPANESE SURRENDERED IN 1945 AND ORDERS TO JAPAN WERE CANCELED. THE 13TH ARMORED DIVISION; CALIFORNIA'S NATIONAL GUARD WAS DEACTIVATED OCTOBER 1945. WAS REASSIGNED TO THE 2ND ARMORED DIVISION AT FORT HOOD TEXAS. HONORABLE DISCHARGED AT FORT MEADE, MARYLAND IN APRIL 1946.