World War II Honoree

Souvenir J. Artaz

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 GRUBER, OKLAHOMA. SERVED AS A SQUAD LEADER WITH THE 83RD INFANTRY DIVISION (NICKNAME: THUNDERBOLT), U.S. 9TH ARMY IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. DEPLOYED TO ENGLAND APRIL 16, 1944 AND TRAINED IN WALES FOR THE INVASION OF FORTRESS EUROPE. LANDED ON OMAHA BEACH JUNE 18, 1944 AND ENTERED COMBAT ON JUNE 27, 1944. CAMPAIGNS: NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE AND CENTRAL EUROPE. MAJOR BATTLES: SIEGFRIED LINE, HUERTGEN FOREST, BATTLE OF THE BULGE AND OPERATION GRENADE (WHEN THE U.S. 9TH ARMY CROSSED THE ROER (RUHR) RIVER IN FEBRUARY 1945. DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS: PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, PURPLE HEART MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE SERVICE STARS AND A MERITORIOUS UNIT CITATION.