World War II Honoree

Charles Hays

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Kinmundy, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON APRIL 22, 1942 AT EAST SAINT LOUIS, ILLINOIS. COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING, QUALIFIED IN THE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY OF RIFLEMAN (745) AND LATER PLATOON SERGEANT. DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. ON MARCH 17, 1945 BOUND FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. ASSIGNED TO AND FOUGHT WITH COMPANY L, 137TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 35TH ‘SANTA FE' INFANTRY DIVISION, IN THE CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGN. EARNED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A SERGEANT ON NOVEMBER 9, 1945 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, CAMP GRANT, ILLINOIS.