World War II Honoree

Charles Henry Zimmerman

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Louisville, Kentucky

Honored By

Charles H. Zimmerman, Jr.

Relationship

Son

ENTERED THE UNITED STATES ARMY AT LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY ON AUGUST 1, 1941. AFTER COMPLETING BASIC TRAINING AT FORT JACKSON, SOUTH CAROLINA, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 8TH INFANTRY AND TRAINED IN THE ARIZONA DESERT TO BECOME A COMBAT INFANTRYMAN. HE SUBSEQUENTLY SAILED TO IRELAND WHERE HE TRAINED FOR THE AMERICAN INVASION AT NORMANDY. HE LANDED ON OMAHA BEACH AND FOUGHT INLAND, FIGHTING IN THE BATTLES OF NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, THE RHINELAND, AND THE BATTLE OF THE HUERTGEN FOREST. HE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED IN THE BATTLE OF BREST AND CAPTURED BY THE GERMAN FORCES BUT SUBSEQUENTLY MANAGED TO ESCAPE. HE WAS AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR, THE PURPLE HEART AND THE PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON NOVEMBER 13, 1945 AT CAMP ATTERBURY, INDIANA.