World War II Honoree

Richard D. Watson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Chicago, Illinois

Honored By

Rhoda Weaver-Watson

Relationship

Daughter

SERVED IN THE U.S. ARMY. IN JUNE OF 1942, HE WAS A NON-COMMISSIONED CORPORAL IN COMPANY D, SECOND ENGINEER SCHOOL REGIMENT. IN NOVEMBER OF 1942, HE WAS ACCEPTED INTO THE U.S. ARMY ENGINEER OFFICER CANDIDATE COURSE IN THE ENGINEER SCHOOL AT FORT BELVOIR, VIRGINIA. HE SERVED FOUR MONTHS AS A 2ND LIEUTENANT, SEVEN MONTHS AS A 1ST LIEUTENANT AND 24 MONTHS AS A CAPTAIN IN THE 366TH ENGINEER GENERAL SERVICE REGIMENT. HE WAS DEPLOYED TO THE EUROPEAN THEATRE OF OPERATIONS IN SEPTEMBER OF 1943, WHERE HE COMMANDED INTEGRATED TROOPS AT THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE AND THROUGHOUT FRANCE AND BRITAIN. DURING THE FINAL MONTHS OF THE WAR, HE COMMANDED THREE PRISONER OF WAR CAMPS IN DUSSE, FRANCE, LOCATED AT THE BELGIUM BORDER. HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN JUNE OF 1945 AND WAS RE-COMMISSIONED TO HAWAII IN SEPTEMBER OF 1945. DURING HIS TIME IN THE SERVICE, HE WAS AWARDED TWO BRONZE SERVICE STARS AND THE WWII MEDAL AND RIBBON OF VICTORY.