World War II Honoree

Geoffrey C. Ferris

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

New Haven County, Connecticut

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: 2ND LIEUTENANT. INDUCTED INTO THE U.S. ARMY JANUARY 23, 1942 AT HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT. GRADUATED FROM FORT SILL, OKLAHOMA OFFICERS CANDIDATE SCHOOL WITH THE CLASS OF 23-42. SERVED IN THE MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ASSIGNED TO THE U.S. ARMY, 6TH BATTALION, 33RD FIELD ARTILLERY REGIMENT, 1ST INFANTRY ‘BIG RED ONE’ DIVISION. KILLED IN ACTION MAY 6, 1943 WHEN GIVEN THE MISSION ALONG WITH HIS UNIT IN TAKING HILL 139 IN THE VICINITY OF BEJA, TUNISIA, NORTH AFRICA. AS A ARTILLERY FORWARD OBSERVER WITH A TELEPHONE AND A REEL OF WIRE, HE WAS CRAWLING FORWARD UP THE HILL, ACROSS OPEN TERRAIN WHEN HE WAS KILLED BY WITHERING ENEMY MACHINE GUN FIRE. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS, SILVER STAR AND A PURPLE HEART WERE AWARDED POSTHUMOUSLY. THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS WAS BESTOWED UPON THE LIEUTENANT FOR EXTREME GALLANTRY AND RISK OF LIFE IN ACTUAL COMBAT WITH AN ARMED ENEMY FORCE. SILVER STAR WAS AWARDED FOR DISTINGUISHED GALLANTRY IN ACTION AND VALOR IN THE FACE OF THE ENEMY. AFTER THE CESSATION OF ALL HOSTILITIES, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO NEW YORK FOR BURIAL, WITH INTERMENT IN THE LONG ISLAND NATIONAL CEMETERY, FARMINGDALE, NEW YORK.