World War II Honoree

Horace Freeman Fairbanks

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Honored By

Dave Brewer

ENLISTED AT THE AGE OF 15 SHORTLY AFTER THE OUTBREAK OF THE WAR. HE SERVED IN BOTH THE PACIFIC AND ATLANTIC THEATRES OF OPERATION. HE WAS A SIGNALMAN ABOARD LANDING CRAFT DURING THE NORMANDY INVASION. HIS LANDING CRAFT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO DELIVER TROOPS TO OMAHA BEACH ON THE MORNING OF JUNE 6, 1944, D-DAY. HE AND HIS CREW MADE 11 ASSAULTS UPON THE BEACH THAT DAY, FERRYING MEN AND AMMUNITION TO ' BLOODY OMAHA'. ON THE 12TH TRIP, HIS HIGGINS BOAT WAS HIT BY A GERMAN 88MM ARTILLERY ROUND AND DESTROYED. HE AND HIS CREW SPENT THE NIGHT ON OMAHA UNTIL THEY WERE EVACUATED THE FOLLOWING MORNING.