World War II Honoree

Cleveland Fitzgerald

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Waynesboro, Virginia

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: MAJOR. SERVED AS A U.S. ARMY, HEADQUARTERS COMPANY COMMANDER, 1ST BATTALION, 502ND PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE ‘SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. HE WAS A PARATROOPER WHO JUMPED INTO FRANCE IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ON D-DAY, JUNE 6, 1944, OPERATION OVERLORD, THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE AND A 2ND COMBAT JUMP INTO HOLLAND, OPERATION MARKET GARDEN. CAMPAIGNS AND BATTLES: NORMANDY, HOLLAND INVASION, ARDENNES-ALSACE BATTLE OF THE BULGE, RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE. SERVED WITH THE OCCUPATION FORCES IN AUSTRIA WHEN ALL HOSTILITIES HAD CEASED WITH THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES. HE DIED OCTOBER 8, 1945 AND IS BURIED AT THE EPINAL AMERICAN CEMETERY, EPINAL (VOSGES), FRANCE. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS. BRONZE STAR, AWARDED FOR BRAVERY, ACT OF MERIT AND MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT AND THE PURPLE HEART. HIS UNIT WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 1 OAK LEAF CLUSTER, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, BELGIAN CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, A NETHERLANDS ORANGE LANYARD AND A BELGIAN FOURRAGERE FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES.