World War II Honoree

Francis Lesly Rawl, Sr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Lykesland, South Carolina

Honored By

James O. Sweeny

Relationship

Classmate

HE WAS CALLED INTO ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE ON SEPTEMBER 16, 1944, AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 78 TH INFANTRY DIVISION AT CAMP PICKETT, VIRGINIA. WITH THE DIVISION, HE DEPARTED THE NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION ON OCTOBER 14, 1944, ARRIVING IN ENGLAND ON THE 26TH. AFTER THREE WEEKS OF INTENSIVE TRAINING, THE DIVISION MOVED TO FRANCE ON THE 22ND, THEN TO BELGIUM ON THE 27TH, AND ON TO ROTGEN, GERMANY ON DECEMBER 4, 1944. DURING THAT WINTER THEY DEFENDED THE AREA THAT HAD BEEN TAKEN FROM THE SIEGFRIED LINE, AND WENT ON THE OFFENSIVE BEGINNING JANUARY 30, 1945. THEY DROVE EASTWARD TO REMAGEN, WHERE THEY CROSSED THE RHINE, EXPANDED THE BRIDGEHEAD, AND FROM APRIL 2ND UNTIL MAY 8TH PARTICIPATED IN THE FIGHTING IN THE RUHR POCKET. AFTER V-E DAY THE DIVISION PERFORMED OCCUPATION DUTIES UNTIL DEACTIVATED ON MAY 22, 1946.