World War II Honoree

William D. Helm

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Glenwood Springs, Colorado

Honored By

Hal D. Terrell

Relationship

WWII Buddy

COMPLETED HIS BASIC MILITARY TRAINING AT CAMP WALTERS, TEXAS AND LATER DEPLOYED TO THE MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ARRIVING ORAN, ALGERIA, NORTH AFRICA MAY 24, 1943. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO A ANTI-TANK COMPANY, 26TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, (NICKNAME: THE BLUE SPADERS), 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION, (NICKNAME: BIG RED ONE) WHERE HE SERVED AS AN ANTI-TANK GUN CREWMAN, INFANTRYMAN AND SQUAD LEADER. CAMPAIGNS: SICILY, NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE, CENTRAL EUROPE AND CZECHOSLOVAKIA. MAJOR BATTLES: INVASION OF THE FORTRESS EUROPE, D-DAY, JUNE 6, 1944 DURING THE ASSAULT ON OMAHA BEACH, AACHEN, HUERTGEN FOREST, BATTLE OF THE BULGE, SIEGFRIED LINE, REMAGEN BRIDGE HEAD, RHINE RIVER, RUHR POCKET AND THE HARZ MOUNTAINS. PREFORMED OCCUPATION DUTY IN GERMANY AFTER ALL HOSTILITIES HAD CEASED WITH THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES. DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS: PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, BRONZE STAR MEDAL (COMBAT HEROISM AND MERITORIOUS SERVICE), PURPLE HEART MEDAL, ARMY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE ARROWHEAD (SICILY INVASION) AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. THE COMBAT INFANTRY BADGE, M1 MARKSMAN BADGE AND THE HONORABLE LAPEL BUTTON. FOREIGN DECORATIONS: 2 FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM MEDALS (KASSERINE AND NORMANDY OPERATIONS), FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE FOURRAGÈRE MEDAL AND A BELGIAN FOURRAGÈRE MEDAL. ENTERED THE SERVICE DECEMBER 10, 1942 AND WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED JANUARY 10, 1946 AT FORT LOGAN, COLORADO.