World War II Honoree

Samuel 'Doc' Pewewardy, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Comanche County, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER AS A LIGHT WEAPONS INFANTRYMAN WITH COMPANY G, 423RD INFANTRY REGIMENT, 106TH INFANTRY 'GOLDEN LION' DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE RHINELAND AND ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE) CAMPAIGNS. HIS DIVISION LANDED IN FRANCE ON DECEMBER 6, 1944 AND MOVED TO THE SCHNEE EIFEL SECTOR OF BELGIUM ON DECEMBER 11, 1944. HIS REGIMENT WAS SURROUNDED AND TRAPPED IN A VALLEY NEAR SCHOENBERG, BELGIUM ON DECEMBER 18, 1944. HE AND OTHER MEMBERS OF HIS REGIMENT WERE FORCED TO SURRENDER TO GERMAN FORCES ON DECEMBER 19, 1944 DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. HIS UNIT WAS OUT OF AMMUNITION AND RATIONS, HAD TAKEN HEAVY CASUALTIES, AND HAD LITTLE CHANCE OF SURVIVAL. SUBSEQUENTLY HELD AS A PRISONER OF WAR (POW) AT STALAG IX B, NEAR BAD ORB, GERMANY. THE CAMP WAS LIBERATED BY ELEMENTS OF THE 44TH INFANTRY DIVISION ON APRIL 2, 1945. HE SPENT 104 DAYS AS A POW. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. CONTINUED IN U.S. ARMY SERVICE AFTER THE WAR UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT WITH THE RANK OF STAFF SERGEANT. ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.