World War II Honoree

Richard W. Fender

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Montrose, Colorado

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY JULY 1942; TRAINED AT LOVE FIELD, DALLAS, TEXAS; UNIVERSITY OF WEST VIRGINIA AND CAMP BARKELEY, ABILENE, TEXAS. SERVED WITH AN ENGINEER BATTALION IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. CAMPAIGNS: NORTHERN FRANCE, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), RHINELAND (GERMANY) AND BELGIUM. HE WAS CAPTURED BY THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES IN JANUARY 1945 AND HELD CAPTIVE AS A PRISONER OF WAR (POW) UNTIL HIS LIBERATION BY THE ALLIED FORCES IN MAY 1945. DECORATIONS: PURPLE HEART MEDAL WITH 3 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, ARMY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1945.