World War II Honoree

James 'Bus' Abshire

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Glenwood Springs, Colorado

Honored By

Hal D. Terrell

Relationship

WWII Buddy

SERVED AS A BROWNING AUTOMATIC RIFLEMAN (BAR) WITH COMPANY-K, 274TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 70TH INFANTRY DIVISION, U.S. 7TH ARMY IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. HE AND HIS REGIMENT ARRIVED IN MARSEILLES, FRANCE DECEMBER 14, 1944 AND ENTERED COMBAT JANUARY 7, 1945 AND FOUGHT CONTINUOUSLY FOR 86 DAYS. CAMPAIGNS: NORTHERN FRANCE, ARDENNES-ALSACE, CENTRAL EUROPE AND THE RHINELAND. MAJOR BATTLES: SIEGFRIED LINE, SAAR VALLEY, SAARBRUCKEN, KRENTZBERG RIDGE AND SPICHERN HEIGHTS. WHEN ALL HOSTILITIES HAD CEASED WITH THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE 3RD INFANTRY DIVISION AND SERVED WITH THE OCCUPATION FORCES IN GERMANY. DECORATIONS AND CITATION: PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, SILVER STAR MEDAL (FOR DISTINGUISHED GALLANTRY IN ACTION), BRONZE STAR MEDAL (FOR COMBAT HEROISM AND MERITORIOUS SERVICE), PURPLE HEART (SEVERELY WOUNDED DURING THE SPICHERN HEIGHTS BATTLE). ARMY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE BATTLE STARS AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ENTERED THE SERVICE FEBRUARY 1944 AND WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED SEPTEMBER 1945.