World War II Honoree

Thorton L. Mullins

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Richmond, Virginia

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: LIEUTENANT COLONEL. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS AS COMMANDER OF THE 111TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION, ATTACHED TO THE 29TH INFANTRY ‘BLUE AND GRAY’ DIVISION, U.S. 1ST ARMY. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE VAST ARMADA THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF THE GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, D-DAY JUNE 6, 1944, OPERATION OVERLORD. WHILE EMBARKING FROM HIS LANDING CRAFT ASSAULT ‘LCA’, HE WENT ASHORE ON OMAHA BEACH, NORMANDY AND KILLED IN ACTION ON THE DAY OF THE INVASION. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS, AWARDED POSTHUMOUSLY. THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS, THE U.S. ARMY SECOND HIGHEST DECORATION WAS BESTOWED UPON THE LIEUTENANT COLONEL FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN CONNECTIONS WITH MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST AN ARMED ENEMY. HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO VIRGINIA FOR BURIAL, WITH INTERMENT IN A PRIVATE CEMETERY.