World War II Honoree

Francis E. Gross

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Terre Haute, Indiana

Honored By

Pearl E. Gross

Relationship

Wife

TECHNICIAN FIFTH GRADE, TRANSPORTATION CORPS/RAILROAD OPERATION. INDUCTED AT FORT HARRISON, INDIANAPOLIS, WITH EXTENSIVE TRAINING AT CAMP JESSE TURNER, VAN BUREN, ARKANSAS; CAMP JOSEPH ROBINSON, BOONVILLE, ARKANSAS, AND CAMP PLAUCHE, NEW ORLEANS. SERVED WITH THE 743RD RAILWAY OPERATING BATTALION, 2ND MILITARY RAILWAY SERVICE, EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. SAILED TO ENGLAND ABOARD THE TRANSPORT VESSEL URUGUAY AND TO OMAHA BEACH, NORMANDY, ON THE CHANNEL FERRY HRMS PRINCESS MAUDE. OPERATED PORT RAILROADS AT CHERBOURG,FRANCE, AND ANTWERP, BELGIUM; THEN THROUGH HOLLAND, GERMANY AND AUSTRIA. RETURNED AT WAR'S END TO CAMP SHANKS, NEW YORK, AND CAMP ATTERBURY, INDIANA, FOR SEPARATION FROM THE SERVICE.