World War II Honoree

Wallace Albert Early

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Shelby, North Carolina

Honored By

Jennifer Early Calvert

Relationship

Daughter

SEPTEMBER 16, 1939, THE 30TH NG DIVISION WAS ACTIVATED. AS A PRIVATE IN COMPANY I 120TH INFANTRY. WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ON ACTIVE DUTY FOR ONE YEAR. BEFORE THE YEAR WAS OVER, WAS EXTENDED FOR AN ADDITIONAL YEAR. THE JAPANESE ATTACK HAPPENED, CAUSING US TO BE EXTENDED INDEFINITELY. THE DIVISION WAS STATIONED AT FT JACKSON, SOUTH CAROLINA. THE TOUR WITH THE 30TH LASTED UNTIL AUGUST 1942. AT THAT TIME RANK WAS STAFF SERGEANT. DETAILED TO OFFICERS' TRAINING SCHOOL AT FT BANNING, GEORGIA. UPON GRADUATION FROM OCS WAS ASSIGNED TO CO L 120TH INFANTRY100 DIVISION AT FT. JACKSON. THE 100TH WAS TRANSFERRED TO FT BRAGG,NORTH CAROLINA IN 1944. THE DIVISION DEPARTED FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS IN OCTOBER OF THAT YEAR. ENTERED COMBAT AS A CAPTAIN AND COMPANY COMMANDER OF CO L. A FEW WEEKS LATER WAS ASSIGNED AS THE S3 OF THE 3RD BATTALION. SERVED IN THAT POSITION UNTIL THE END OF THE WAR.