World War II Honoree

Raymond E. Apple

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Coalinga, California

Honored By

John M. Apple

Relationship

Brother

SERVED AS AN INFANTRYMAN AND A TANK DESTROYER DRIVER IN THE MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS WITH THE 168TH ‘RAINBOW’ INFANTRY REGIMENT, 34TH ‘RED BULL’ INFANTRY DIVISION, U.S. 5TH ARMY. PARTICIPATED IN SIX MAJOR CAMPAIGNS IN NORTH AFRICA, SICILY AND ITALY. MAJOR BATTLES: TUNISIA: FONDOUK PASS, SIDI NSIR, EDDIK KHILA. ITALY: KASSERINE PASS, SALERNO, NAPLES-FOGGIA, ANZIO, ROME-ARNO, NORTH APENNINES MOUNTAINS AND PO VALLEY. HE AND HIS DIVISION ARE CREDITED WITH MASSING 517 DAYS OF CONTINUOUS FRONT LINE COMBAT AND RECEIVED HIS 1ST BAPTISM OF FIRE ON NOVEMBER 8, 1942 DURING THE INVASION OF NORTH AFRICA. PRIOR TO HIS DEPLOYMENT TO THE MEDITERRANEAN THEATER, HE HAD COMPLETED HIS BASIC MILITARY TRAINING AT FORT ORD CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNED TO ABLE COMPANY (ANTI-TANK), 53RD INFANTRY REGIMENT, 3RD DIVISION, 4TH U.S. ARMY. DEPLOYED TO ENGLAND OCTOBER 24, 1942 FOR ADDITIONAL TRAINING IN PREPARATION FOR THE NORTH AFRICA INVASION UNDER THE COMMAND OF GENERAL PATTON. DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS: PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 2 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, PURPLE HEART MEDAL, ARMY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE AND THE HONORABLE LAPEL BUTTON. FOREIGN DECORATION: THE FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM. HE ENLISTED INTO THE ARMY SEPTEMBER 12, 1940 AND WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED JULY 9, 1945 AT CAMP BEALE, CALIFORNIA.