World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Charles E. Quinn
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Lancaster, South Carolina
Honored By
Robert S. Cox
SERVED AS A PRIVATE IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH THE 10TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 5TH INFANTRY 'RED DIAMOND' DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE NORMANDY, AND NORTHERN FRANCE CAMPAIGNS. LANDED AT UTAH BEACH IN NORMANDY, FRANCE ON JULY 9, 1944. HIS DIVISION ATTACKED TO TAKE VIDOUVILLE, ANGERS, CHARTRES AND REIMS, FRANCE IN AUGUST, 1944. THEN ESTABLISHED A BRIDGEHEAD ACROSS THE MEUSE RIVER AT VERDUN, FRANCE. ON SEPTEMBER 7, 1944, HIS DIVISION BEGAN THE BATTLE FOR METZ, FRANCE. THE FOLLOWING DAY, IT ESTABLISHED A PRECARIOUS BRIDGEHEAD OVER THE MOSELLE RIVER AT ARNAVILLE. HIS REGIMENT DEFENDED THE BRIDGEHEAD PERIMETER IN THE FACE OF HEAVY GERMAN SHELLFIRE AND CONTINUOUS COUNTERATTACKS, MUDDY CONDITIONS AND CRITICAL AMMUNITION SHORTAGES. HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON SEPTEMBER 17, 1944 DURING A STRONG GERMAN COUNTERATTACK. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM FOR ACTIONS BY HIS REGIMENT AT THE MOSELLE RIVER.