World War II Honoree

Carl R. Duncan

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Pateros, Washington

Honored By

Letha M. Duncan & LTC Charles T. Borg, USA-Ret.

JOINED ARMY OCTOBER 14, 1940 AT FORT LAWTON, WASHINGTON. RECEIVED BASIC TRAINING AT THE PRESIDIO OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. ON NOVEMBER 8, 1942 WAS ASSIGNED TO SERVICE COMPANY, 30TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 3RD INFANTRY DIVISION AS PART OF THE AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT LANDING ON THE SHORES OF MOROCCO, CAPTURING THE CITY OF CASABLANCA. PRESENT WHEN PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT AND BRITISH PRIME MINISTER WINSTON CHURCHILL HELD THEIR SUMMIT MEETING ON THE ALLIED STRATEGY FOR THE CONDUCT OF THE WAR IN EUROPE. DROVE SUPPLY TRUCKS, HAULING FUEL AND SUPPLIES BETWEEN ORAN, ALGERIA AND MOROCCO, A DISTANCE OF 400 MILES ROUND TRIP. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE CONVOY WAS ATTACKED BY GERMAN AIRCRAFT. THE BARRACKS WAS A CAMEL BARN. IN MARCH 1943, LOCATED TO TUNISIA TO PREPARE FOR THE INVASION OF SICILY, WHICH BEGAN ON JULY 9TH. WOUNDED DURING THE SICILY CAMPAIGN. WAS CREDITED FOR SHOOTING DOWN A GERMAN DIVE BOMBER WITH A TRUCK MOUNTED 50 CALIBER MACHINE GUN. AFTER THE CAPTURE OF SICILY, CROSSED ONTO THE ITALIAN MAINLAND IN SEPTEMBER 1943 AND FOUGHT IN THE INTENSE CAMPAIGN AT THE VOLTURNO RIVER. IN JANUARY 1944 WAS IN THE INVASION FORCE THAT CAME ASHORE BEHIND GERMAN LINES AT ANZIO AS PART OF THE PLAN TO CAPTURE ROME. LATER EVACUATED WITH ACUTE MALARIA AND WAS FURTHER EVACUATED TO THE U.S. ABOARD THE USS AMERICA. RECOVERED AND WAS ASSIGNED TO FORT ORD, CALIFORNIA AS A WEAPONS INSTRUCTOR FOR TRAINEES GOING TO THE PACIFIC AND EUROPEAN FRONT. DISCHARGED IN JUNE 1945. AWARDED PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, PURPLE HEART, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE ARROWHEAD AND 5 STARS, AND EXPERT MARKSMANSHIP BADGE FOR M-1 RIFLE.