World War II Honoree

John Petrocco

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Glenwood Springs, Colorado

Honored By

Hal D. Terrell

Relationship

WWII Buddy

SERVED AS A BROWNING AUTOMATIC RIFLEMAN WITH COMPANY G, 3RD BATTALION, 5TH REGIMENT, 71ST INFANTRY DIVISION (NICKNAME: THE RED CIRCLE), U.S. 7TH ARMY IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. HIS DIVISION ARRIVED IN LE HAVRE, FRANCE FEBRUARY 6, 1945. ENTERED COMBAT MARCH 11, 1945 NEAR BITCHE, FRANCE IN THE VOSGES MOUNTAINS AND PARTICIPATED IN 62 DAYS OF COMBAT. CAMPAIGNS: RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE. MAJOR BATTLES: SIEGFRIED LINE, LINGENFELD, COBURG, BAYREUTH, REGENSBURG AND STRAUBING. WHEN ALL HOSTILITIES HAD CEASED WITH THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES, HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO HEADQUARTERS 3RD BATTALION, 39TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 9TH INFANTRY DIVISION. PRIOR TO HIS EUROPEAN DEPLOYMENT, HE COMPLETED HIS BASIC MILITARY TRAINING AT CAMP FANNIN, TEXAS; ARMORED TRAINING AT CAMP CAMPBELL, KENTUCKY; AND LATER TRANSFERRED TO FORT BENNING, GEORGIA AND ASSIGNED TO THE 71ST DIVISION. DECORATIONS: BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART MEDAL WITH BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER (FOR WOUNDS SUSTAINED IN THE BATTLE OF LINGENFELD), ARMY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, THE ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH GERMANY CLASP, THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE AND THE HONORABLE LAPEL BUTTON. ENTERED THE SERVICE JANUARY 3, 1944 AND WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED JUNE 13, 1946 AT FORT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS.