World War II Honoree

Art Halterman

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Pateros, Washington

Honored By

Emery & Bill Halterman; LTC Charles T. Borg, USA-Ret.

SERVED WITH INFANTRY IN NORTH AFRICA, SICILY AND ITALY. FIRST LANDED IN NORTH AFRICA AND PREPARED FOR THE INVASION OF SICILY (OPERATION HUSKY) WHICH COMMENCED IN JULY 1943 AND ENDED IN SEPTEMBER WITH THE OVERTHROW OF BENITO MUSSOLINI WHO HAD ALIGNED WITH GERMANY'S ADOLF HITLER. IN SEPTEMBER 1943, LANDED IN SOUTHERN ITALY AND FOR THE NEXT TWO AND A HALF YEARS, FOUGHT NORTHWARD AGAINST STUBBORN GERMAN RESISTANCE IN SOME OF THE MOST INTENSE FIGHTING IN DIFFICULT WEATHER AND TERRAIN. BATTLES INCLUDED SALERNO, CASSINO, ANZIO, ROME AND PO RIVER. DURING THIS TIME WAS ELEVATED TO RANK OF STAFF SERGEANT, LEADING AN INFANTRY PLATOON. ALSO DURING THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN, WAS WOUNDED IN ACTION. DISCHARGED IN 1946. AWARDED COMBAT INFANTRYMAN'S BADGE, PURPLE HEART, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER MEDAL WITH BRONZE ARROWHEAD FOR ASSAULT LANDINGS IN SICILY AND ITALY AND 4 BATTLE STARS FOR THE MAJOR CAMPAIGNS IN ITALY, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.