World War II Honoree

Edward W. Friday, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Rosemary L. Friday

Relationship

Proud Daughter

ENTERED SERVICE APRIL 10, 1943. HONORABLE DISCHARGE JANUARY 3, 1946. BASIC TRAINING; CAMP MCCALL, NORTH CAROLINA. MANEUVERS AT CAMP FORREST, TENNESSEE. OVERSEAS; JULY 1944. SERVED WITH 17TH AIRBORNE DIVISION, 194TH GLIDER INFANTRY REGIMENT, COMPANY E AND SERVICE COMPANY AS A RIFLEMAN AND GLIDER TROOPER. JEEP AND LIGHT TRUCK DRIVER. DROVE SUPPLIES AND AMMUNITION BEHIND ENEMY LINES. SERVED IN EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS IN ARDENNES, CENTRAL EUROPE AND RHINELAND. PARTICIPATED IN BATTLE OF THE BULGE AND OPERATION VARSITY, THE AIRBORNE ASSAULT ACROSS THE RHINE RIVER INTO GERMANY. RECEIVED BRONZE STAR FOR BRAVERY DURING OPERATION VARSITY. AWARDED FOR HEROIC ACTION NEAR WESE, GERMANY; MARCH 24, 1945. LANDED BY GLIDER DURING AIRBORNE INVASION. AFTER TRAILER WAS UNLOADED FROM THE GLIDER, HE FILLED IT WITH BADLY NEEDED AMMUNITION AND SUPPLIES. EN ROUTE TO THE COMPANY, WAS ATTACKED BY A LIGHT GERMAN TANK, WHICH HE REPULSED WITH HEAVY MACHINE GUN FIRE. RECEIVED THREE BRONZE STAR MEDALS, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, AC GLIDER BADGE WITH COMBAT LANDING STAR, EXPERT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE ARROWHEAD AND 3 BRONZE BATTLE STARS, MARKSMAN SHOOTER MEDAL WITH BAR AND 30 CALIBER MACHINE GUN BAR ATTACHED, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND ARMY PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION. SERVED IN ENGLAND, BELGIUM, HOLLAND, LUXEMBOURG, FRANCE AND GERMANY. ATTACHED TO 82ND AIRBORNE FOR BERLIN OCCUPATION AFTER THE VICTORY IN EUROPE.