World War II Honoree

John Colnar

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Roseville, California

Honored By

Emma Colnar Atkins & LTC Charles Borg, USA-Ret.

JOINED U.S. ARMY IN SAN FRANCISCO ON FEBRUARY 18, 1942, AT THE AGE OF 34. AFTER TRAINING IN ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY, JOINED 109TH ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY GROUP AT CAMP EDWARDS, MASSACHUSETTS. SAILED FOR ENGLAND ABOARD THE SANTA ELENA. ARRIVED JULY 27, 1943. PROVIDED ANTI-AIRCRAFT PROTECTION FOR 8TH AIR FORCE BASES AT SEVERAL LOCATIONS IN ENGLAND. HELD RANK OF STAFF SERGEANT. LANDED ON OMAHA BEACH, NORMANDY, ON JUNE 11, 1944 (D-DAY+5) AND PROVIDED PROTECTION TO THE LANDING BEACHES. FOLLOWED THE ARMORED THRUST ACROSS NORTHERN FRANCE TOWARD BELGIUM. DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE IN DECEMBER 1944, SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDED LUXEMBOURG CITY AND HELPED BLOCK THE GERMAN PENETRATION OF THE ALLIED LINES. WHEN THE GERMAN COUNTER OFFENSIVE FAILED, MOVED EAST AND PLAYED A KEY ROLE SUPPORTING THE INFANTRY CROSSING OF THE ROER RIVER. WENT ON TO HELP SECURE THE REMAGEN BRIDGE ACROSS THE RHINE RIVER AND ENDURED 75 SEPARATE ACTIONS IN 9 DAYS. CROSSED THE RHINE INTO GERMANY AS PART OF PATTON'S THIRD ARMY. WHEN THE WAR ENDED IN MAY 1945, WAS LOCATED AT HERSFELD, GERMANY, SOUTH OF NUREMBERG. DURING THE EUROPEAN CAMPAIGN WAS INVOLVED IN ENGAGEMENTS AGAINST GERMAN AIRCRAFT, GROUND ENGAGEMENTS SUPPORTING ARMORED AND INFANTRY OPERATIONS, DESTROYED GERMAN TANKS AND ARMORED MOTOR VEHICLES, AND CAPTURED PRISONERS OF WAR. DISCHARGED IN LATE 1945 HOLDING THE RANK OF MASTER SERGEANT. AWARDS INCLUDED: PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER MEDAL WITH 5 BATTLE STARS FOR NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE, AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.