World War II Honoree

Mody Cunningham, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Lancaster, South Carolina

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

STAGED AT CAMP KILMER AT STELTON, NEW JERSEY ON JUNE 21, 1944 AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED WITH HIS REGIMENT FROM THE NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION ON JULY 1, 1944 AND ARRIVED IN ENGLAND ON JULY 7, 1944. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH COMPANY F, 2ND BATTALION, 319TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 80TH INFANTRY 'BLUE RIDGE' DIVISION. HIS REGIMENT PARTICIPATED IN THE NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. LANDED AT UTAH BEACH IN NORMANDY, FRANCE ON AUGUST 3, 1944. FOUGHT IN FRANCE, LUXEMBOURG AND GERMANY. HIS REGIMENT WAS ATTACHED TO THE 4TH ARMORED DIVISION DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE AND ASSISTED IN OPENING A CORRIDOR INTO THE BESIEGED CITY OF BASTOGNE, BELGIUM. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART WITH BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER FOR WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION ON TWO OCCASIONS, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF STAFF SERGEANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.