World War II Honoree

Floyd W. Pruitt

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Iola, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON JUNE 11, 1941 AT EAST SAINT LOUIS, ILLINOIS. SELECTED FOR THE FIELD ARTILLERY, COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING, AND QUALIFIED IN THE ARMY SPECIALTY OF SCOUT. A COLLEGE GRADUATE, HE VOLUNTEERED FOR AND COMPLETED THE GRADUATE OFFICER CANDIDATE COURSE AT FORT SILL, OKLAHOMA. HONORABLY DISCHARGED THERE AS A SERGEANT ON JULY 6, 1942 TO ACCEPT APPOINTMENT AS A SECOND LIEUTENANT AND ACTIVE DUTY THE NEXT DAY. THEN, ATTENDED THE OFFICERS COMMUTATIONS SCHOOL AT SAME STATION. DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. ON OCTOBER 30, 1944 BOUND FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. ASSIGNED TO AND FOUGHT WITH BATTERY B, 176TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION (A NON-DIVISIONAL UNIT), IN THE RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. HONORABLY RELIEVED FROM ACTIVE DUTY AS A MAJOR ON OCTOBER 18, 1946 AT FITZSIMMONS GENERAL HOSPITAL, DENVER, COLORADO. EARNED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE BATTLE STARS, AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.