World War II Honoree

Gino J. Ossanna

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Norway, Michigan

SERGEANT. SERVED FROM APRIL 9, 1943 TO SEPTEMBER 29, 1945, OVERSEAS FROM MAY 29, 1944 TO AUGUST 8, 1945 WITH THE 9TH ARMY AIR FORCE, 50TH TROOP CARRIER WING, 438TH TROOP CARRIER GROUP, 89TH ('PRIMIS CUM PLURIMUS' - FIRST WITH THE MOST MEN) TROOP CARRIER SQUAD. ATTENDED AIRPLANE MECHANIC'S SCHOOL, GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI. EARNED 2 DISTINGUISHED (PRESIDENTIAL) UNIT AWARDS FOR ACTIONS ON C-47 SKYTRAIN AIRCRAFT TOWING GLIDERS WITH PARATROOPS OVER NORMANDY LEADING THE AMERICAN AIRBORNE LANDINGS ON D-DAY AND ALSO FOR THE INITIAL DROP OF PARATROOPS TO SECURE THE FIRST AERIAL BRIDGEHEAD OVER THE RHINE IN THE RUHR VALLEY. ALSO AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL WITH AN OAK LEAF CLUSTER (2 AWARDS); THE ARMY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL; THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL; THE EUROPE-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN MEDAL WITH 1 SILVER AND 2 BRONZE STARS FOR ACTIONS IN THE 7 BATTLE CAMPAIGNS OF NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, SOUTHERN FRANCE, ROME-ARNO, ARDENNES, CENTRAL EUROPE, AND THE RHINELAND; THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND THE ARMY OF THE OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH GERMANY CLASP. ALSO EARNED THE AIRCREW BADGE, THE ARMY AIR FORCE AIRPLANE MECHANIC TECHNICAL BADGE, CARBINE MARKSMAN BADGE, TWO OVERSEAS SERVICE STRIPES, THE 'RUPTURED DUCK' LAPEL BUTTON FOR HONORABLE SERVICE, AND THE 50TH D-DAY ANNIVERSARY FRENCH JUBILEE OF LIBERTY MEDAL. DISCHARGED AT CAMP MCCOY, WISCONSIN.