World War II Honoree

Douglas E. Gile

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Scandia, Kansas

Honored By

Donald R. Thomason

INDUCTED INTO THE U.S. ARMY ON FEBRUARY 4, 1941. HE SERVED IN ALASKA, WORKING ON THE ALCAN (ALASKA-CANADIAN) HIGHWAY. HE ALSO SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER. DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE IN LUXEMBOURG ON DECEMBER 23, 1944 HE WAS ASSIGNED TO KNOCK OUT AN ENEMY GUN POSITION. DURING THIS FIGHT HE WAS SEVERELY WOUNDED BY MORTAR SHRAPNEL IN THE ARM AND LEG. CONTINUED TO FIGHT AND SHOT TWO ENEMY SOLDIERS. AFTER THE FIGHT HE MANAGED TO WALK BACK TO THE FRONT LINES. THERE FOUR SOLDIERS MADE A LITTER OUT OF A RAINCOAT AND CARRIED HIM TO THE AID STATION. AFTER RECEIVING AID HE WAS FLOWN TO THE 67TH GENERAL HOSPITAL IN TAUNTON, SOMERSET, ENGLAND TO RECOVER. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART FOR HIS ACTIONS IN COMBAT AND RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE AS PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ON JULY 2, 1945.