World War II Honoree

Kenneth Paul Gilson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Chelyan, West Virginia

Honored By

Frederick P. Gilson

Relationship

Son

OCTOBER 1941 ASSIGNED AS THE REGIMENTAL S2 (INTELLIGENCE OFFICER), 150TH INFANTRY WEST VIRGINIA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD. DECEMBER 1941 DEPLOYED TO PANAMA CANAL ZONE. AUGUST 1942 PROMOTED TO MAJOR. NOVEMBER 1942 ASSIGNED TO THE 5TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, CAMP VAN DORN, MISSISSIPPI. MARCH 1943 ASSIGNED AS S3 (OPERATIONS OFFICER), 5TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 71ST LIGHT DIVISION, CAMP CARSON, COLORADO. JUNE 1943 PROMOTED TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL. JUNE 1944 DEPLOYED TO ENGLAND, HEADQUARTERS, EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. JULY 1944 ASSIGNED TO THE 5TH ARMORED DIVISION. 20 AUGUST 1944 ASSUMED COMMAND OF THE 46TH ARMORED INFANTRY BATTALION, 5TH ARMORED DIVISION, CHAMPENARD, FRANCE. 28 AUGUST 1944 ASSUMED COMMAND OF THE 15TH ARMORED INFANTRY BATTALION, 5TH ARMORED DIVISION, SENLIS, FRANCE. 20 SEPTEMBER 1944 WOUNDED IN ACTION, NIEDERSGEGEN VALLEY, GERMANY. DECEMBER 1944 ASSIGNED TO GENERAL INSPECTORATE SECTION, HEADQUARTERS, EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. AUGUST 1945 ASSIGNED TO RECEPTION STATION AT CAMP BLANDING, FLORIDA. JANUARY 1946 PROMOTED TO COLONEL. AWARDS INCLUDE: BRONZE STAR WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER, PURPLE HEART, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH SILVER GILT STAR, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, AMERICAN DEFENSE MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AMERICAN SERVICE MEDAL, AND THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN SERVICE MEDAL.