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World War II Honoree

World War II Veteran

Rudolph Joseph 'Rudy' Akoneto

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Caddo County, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

Branch Seal
Activity During WWII

A NATIVE AMERICAN MEMBER OF THE KIOWA INDIAN TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA, HE ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE ON NOVEMBER 26, 1943 AT AGE 18. VOLUNTEERED FOR PARATROOPER TRAINING AND UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF TRAINING, AWARDED SILVER PARACHUTIST WINGS. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH COMPANY 'H', 502ND PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE 'SCREAMING EAGLES' DIVISION. JOINED HIS UNIT AND STAGED IN ENGLAND BEFORE ASSAULTING NORMANDY, FRANCE ON JUNE 6, 1944 (D-DAY). PARTICIPATED IN THE NORMANDY, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. MADE A NIGHT COMBAT JUMP IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF D-DAY AT NORMANDY, FRANCE. WOUNDED IN ACTION ON JANUARY 16, 1945. MADE ANOTHER COMBAT JUMP ON SEPTEMBER 17, 1944 DURING THE ASSAULT ON NIJMEGEN-ARNHEM, HOLLAND DURING OPERATION 'MARKET-GARDEN.' HELPED FREE PRISONERS OF WAR AND VICTIMS OF THE HOLOCAUST. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, COMBAT PARACHUTIST BADGE WITH 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE ARROWHEAD DEVICE AND 4 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH ‘GERMANY’ CLASP. AUTHORIZED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION WITH BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS REGIMENT AT NORMANDY AND AGAIN AT BASTOGNE. AWARDED THE FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM FOR ACTIONS BY HIS REGIMENT AT NORMANDY. AUTHORIZED THE BELGIAN FOURRAGERE FOR HIS REGIMENT BEING CITED TWICE IN THE ORDER OF THE DAY OF THE BELGIAN ARMY FOR ACTIONS AT BASTOGNE AND AGAIN IN FRANCE AND BELGIUM. AUTHORIZED THE NETHERLANDS ORANGE LANYARD FOR HIS REGIMENT BEING CITED AND AWARDED THE NETHERLANDS MILITARY ORDER OF WILLIAM. HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON JANUARY 5, 1946 AT CAMP FANNIN AT TYLER, TEXAS AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.