World War II Honoree

Francis Lesly Rawl

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Lykesland, South Carolina

Honored By

James O. Sweeny

HE ENTERED INTO ACTIVE DUTY WITH THE ARMY IN 1942 AND WAS LATER ASSIGNED TO THE 78TH DIVISION, 1ST ARMY AT CAMP PICKETT, VIRGINIA. THE DIVISION MOVED TO CAMP KILMER, NEW JERSEY EN ROUTE TO THE NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION. LEFT NEW YORK ON OCTOBER 14, 1944, ARRIVING IN ENGLAND ON THE 25TH. AFTER BRIEF BUT INTENSIVE COMBAT TRAINING IN ENGLAND, HE CROSSED TO FRANCE ON NOVEMBER 22. THEN MOVED TO TONGEREN, BELGIUM ON NOVEMBER 27, 1944 AND ON TO ROTGEN, GERMANY ON DECEMBER 7, 1944. HE WAS ENGAGED IN DEFENDING THE AREA TAKEN FROM THE SIEGFRIED LINE DURING THE WINTER, AND BEGAN THE OFFENSIVE ON JANUARY 30, 1945. AFTER CROSSING THE ROER RIVER ON FEBRUARY 28, THEY CAPTURED THE LUDENDORF BRIDGE AT REMAGEN, BEING THE FIRST TROOPS TO CROSS FOLLOWING THE 27TH ARMORED INFANTRY BATTALION. DURING APRIL AND EARLY MAY, HE ENGAGED THE ENEMY IN THE RUHR POCKET, AND WAS STATIONED AT MARBURG ON V-E DAY. DEACTIVATED ON MAY 22, 1946 AND WAS DISCHARGED AS A MAJOR SHORTLY THEREAFTER. HE EARNED THE AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AND EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER MEDAL FOR RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE, AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS.