World War II Honoree

Marion Charles Ludy Baldwin

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Rock Hill, South Carolina

Honored By

James O. Sweeny

Relationship

Classmate

ENTERED ACTIVE DUTY AS A 2ND LIEUTENANT IN DECEMBER, 1941. AFTER INITIAL TRAINING HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 90TH INFANTRY DIVISION THEN BEING ACTIVATED AT CAMP BARKELEY, TEXAS. TRAINED AT CAMP BARKELEY, AND THE LOUISIANA AND CALIFORNIA MANEUVER AREAS BEFORE SHIPPING OUT FOR ENGLAND, ARRIVING THERE ON APRIL 5, 1944. TRAINED IN ENGLAND UNTIL COMMITTED TO ACTION IN THE NORMANDY INVASION. ON JUNE 16, 1944, BEING THE YOUNGEST BATTALION COMMANDER IN THE LANDING FORCES, HE WAS LEADING HIS BATTALION NEAR THE MERDERET RIVER WHEN IT CAME UNDER HEAVY MACHINE GUN FIRE. HE WAS SERIOUSLY WOUNDED AND HAD TO EVACUATE. ARRIVED AT CAMP MCCLOSKEY GENERAL HOSPITAL IN TEMPLE, TEXAS ON JULY 22, 1944 IN A BODY CAST FROM THE WAIST DOWN AND A BRACE CAST ON HIS RIGHT ARM. AFTER EXTENSIVE TREATMENT THERE, AND THEN IN BROOKS ARMY MEDICAL CENTER IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, HE WAS DISCHARGED AS A LIEUTENANT COLONEL IN NOVEMBER, 1946.