World War II Honoree

Louis 'Lucky' Armes

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Bloomington, Illinois

Honored By

Henry Louis Leger

TECHNICIAN 5TH GRADE. INDUCTED INTO THE U.S. ARMY ON APRIL 15, 1944. AFTER RECRUIT TRAINING, VOLUNTEERED FOR, AND COMPLETED, PARACHUTE JUMP SCHOOL AT FORT BENNING, GEORGIA ON DECEMBER 8, 1944. ASSIGNED TO 17TH AIRBORNE DIVISION, 513TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 1ST BATTALION, COMPANY C. DEPARTED THE U.S. ON JANUARY 21, 1945 AND ARRIVED IN ENGLAND ON FEBRUARY 6, 1945. IMMEDIATELY TRANSFERRED TO HIS UNIT IN CHALONS-SUR-MARNE, FRANCE. ADDITIONAL JUMP TRAINING CONTINUED FOR THE NEXT MAJOR PARACHUTE OPERATION SCHEDULED FOR LATE MARCH, 1945. ON MARCH 24, 1945, 'OPERATION VARSITY' COMMENCED AND HE JUMPED INTO HEAVILY FORTIFIED ENEMY POSITIONS NEAR WESTPHALIA, GERMANY AND WAS WOUNDED IN ACTION. FOR SUPERIOR COMBAT ACTION NEAR WESEL, GERMANY, RECEIVED A DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION. ADDITIONAL AWARDS INCLUDE: COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE WITH ASSOCIATED BRONZE STAR MEDAL FROM POST-WAR CONGRESSIONAL DIRECTIVE, PURPLE HEART MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AND EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH TWO BRONZE STARS (RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE) AND ONE BRONZE ARROWHEAD FOR THE PARACHUTE ASSAULT JUMP INTO GERMANY, MARCH 24, 1945. ALSO RECEIVED WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND MARKSMAN BADGE (CARBINE). RETURNED TO UNIT ON AUGUST 21, 1945 AND RE-ENLISTED FOR ANOTHER TERM IN THE U.S. ARMY.