World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Nick G. Christakos
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Columbia, South Carolina
Honored By
Robert S. Cox
HIS REGIMENT STAGED AT CAMP KILMER AT STELTON, NEW JERSEY ON JUNE 19, 1944 AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED FROM THE NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION ON JULY 1, 1944 AND ARRIVED IN ENGLAND ON JULY 7, 1944. SERVED AS A PRIVATE IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH THE 317TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 80TH INFANTRY 'BLUE RIDGE' DIVISION. HIS UNIT LANDED ACROSS UTAH BEACH IN NORMANDY, FRANCE ON AUGUST 3, 1944. PARTICIPATED IN THE NORTHERN FRANCE, AND RHINELAND CAMPAIGNS. HIS DIVISION MOPPED UP IN THE LE MANS AREA AND ASSISTED IN THE BATTLE FOR THE FALAISE GAP IN FRANCE, INCLUDING STORMING LE BOURG-SAINT LEONARD ON AUGUST 17, 1944, AND CAPTURING ARGENTAN ON AUGUST 20, 1944. FOUGHT AGAINST STRONG OPPOSITION AT TOUL, FRANCE, CROSSED THE MOSELLE RIVER, AND DEFENDED THE BRIDGEHEAD AGAINST COUNTERATTACKS IN AUGUST, 1944. THE DIVISION FOUGHT FOR BOIS DA LA RUMONT, FRANCE IN SEPTEMBER, 1944. KILLED IN ACTION ON SEPTEMBER 23, 1944. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.