World War II Honoree

Persley Joseph Dyer

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Portland, Maine

Honored By

Mary Montero

Relationship

Daughter

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS. SERVED FROM MARCH 21, 1941 TO OCTOBER 5, 1945 IN BOTH THE PACIFIC (JANUARY 31, 1942 TO APRIL 16, 1944) AND THE EUROPEAN (JANUARY 26, 1945 TO SEPTEMBER 19, 1945) THEATERS OF OPERATION. SERVED WITH 103RD INFANTRY 'CACTUS' DIVISION, 410TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, COMPANY C. JOINED 103RD INFANTRY DIVISION IN JANUARY 1945 AS IT BEGAN ITS OFFENSIVE DRIVE ACROSS GERMANY CROSSING THE MODER AND ZINZEL RIVERS IN MARCH 1945 AND TAKING MUHLHAUSEN WITH HEAVY OPPOSITION. CONTINUED ACROSS THE LAUTER RIVER AND PENETRATED THE DEFENSES OF THE SEIGFRIED LINE. REACHED THE RHINE VALLEY IN MARCH 1945, PURSUED THE ENEMY THROUGH STUTTGART AND TOOK MUNSINGEN. ELEMENTS OF THE DIVISION ENTERED LANDSBURG, WHERE KAUFERING CONCENTRATION CAMP, A SUBCAMP OF DACHAU WAS LIBERATED. CROSSED THE DANUBE NEAR ULM AND MOVED ON TO INNSBRUCK, AUSTRIA WHERE THE GERMANS SURRENDERED. LINKED UP WITH 88TH INFANTRY DIVISION AT THE BRENNER PASS AT THE AUSTRIAN/ ITALIAN BORDER. AFTER V-E DAY, CONTINUED TO ENGAGE IN OCCUPATIONAL DUTIES UNTIL DEACTIVATED. AWARDS INCLUDE THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL FOR VALOR, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH TWO BRONZE STARS FOR THE RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE BATTLE CAMPAIGNS, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL, MARKSMAN BADE FOR AUTOMATIC RIFLES, AS WELL AS FIVE OVERSEAS SERVICE STRIPES, 1 HASH MARK AND THE 'RUPTURED DUCK' LAPEL BUTTON FOR HONORABLE SERVICE.