World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
John B. Purdie
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Grenada County, Mississippi
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. INDUCTED INTO THE U.S. ARMY AUGUST 29, 1942 AT CAMP SHELBY, MISSISSIPPI. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ASSIGNED TO THE U.S. ARMY, 3RD PLATOON, HOTEL COMPANY, 3RD BATTALION, 506TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE ‘SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. KILLED IN ACTION MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1944 BY THE CONCUSSION FROM A TANK SHELL IN THE VICINITY OF VEGHEL, HOLLAND. HE IS BURIED IN THE NETHERLANDS AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT MARGRATEN, NETHERLANDS. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: BRONZE STAR AND A PURPLE HEART WITH A BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER. THE BRONZE STAR WAS BESTOWED UPON THE SOLDIER FOR BRAVERY, ACT OF MERIT AND MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT. HIS DIVISION WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH A BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER, MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, BELGIAN CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, BELGIAN FOURRAGERE OF 1940 AND THE ORANGE LANYARD OF THE ROYAL NETHERLANDS ARMY FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES.