World War II Honoree

Guido G. Bagett

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Carbondale, Colorado

Honored By

Karen Aiello

Relationship

Daughter

HE SERVED JANUARY 1944 THROUGH DECEMBER 1945. HIS BASIC TRAINING WAS AT FT. LEONARD WOOD, MISSOURI FROM WHERE HE WAS SHIPPED TO CAMP SHARON, PENNSYLVANIA AND TRANSFERRED INTO THE 732ND RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION, COMPANY C, 2ND BATTALION. HE ARRIVED ENGLAND IN OCTOBER 1944 AND LANDED ON UTAH BEACH IN NOVEMBER 1944 WHERE HE WAS ASSIGNED TO PATTON'S 3RD ARMY AND THE RAILROAD BATTALION. THE CAMPAIGN TOOK HIM THROUGH FRANCE: PARIS, VERDUN, METZ AND THE MOSELLE RIVER VALLEY; AND GERMANY: TRIER, COBLENZ, AND SAARBRUCKEN AND THE SAAR VALLEY AS FAR AS THE RAILWAY COULD GO, THE OBJECTIVE BEING TO RE-ENGINEER BOMBED BRIDGES AND RAILROAD TRACKS FOR THE CONTINUED MOVEMENT OF MEN AND EQUIPMENT. INCLUDED WERE NUMEROUS BRIDGES OVER THE SEINE, MOSELLE, SAAR, AND RHINE RIVERS AND RAILWAY TRACKS AND TUNNELS THROUGH BOTH FRANCE AND GERMANY. WHEN THE EUROPEAN CAMPAIGN ENDED HE WAS SENT TO MARSEILLES AFTER RECEIVING ORDERS TO SHIP OUT TO JAPAN AND WAS TRANSFERRED INTO THE 552ND FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION. PRIOR TO THE TROOPS SHIPPING OUT, JAPAN SURRENDERED, AND HIS BATTALION WAS SHIPPED BACK TO BOSTON VIA LYON AND LEHAVRE, FRANCE. UPON HIS RETURN TO COLORADO HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED AT FT. LOGAN, COLORADO. MEDALS EARNED DURING SERVICE CONSISTED OF SHARPSHOOTER, GOOD CONDUCT, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN SERVICE, BATTLE OF BULGE, AND THE WWII VICTORY. AT THE AGE OF 96 HE GOT TO VISIT THE WWII MEMORIAL AND WAS HUMBLED BY THE EXPERIENCE. GUIDO PASSED AWAY ON JANUARY 3, 2015 AT THE AGE OF 102.