World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Eugene J. Raczkowski
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Cook County, Illinois
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: PRIVATE. INDUCTED INTO THE U.S. ARMY APRIL 4, 1942 AT CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ASSIGNED TO THE U.S. ARMY, BRAVO COMPANY, 505TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 82ND AIRBORNE ‘ALL AMERICAN’ DIVISION. HE WAS A PARATROOPER WHO JUMPED INTO FRANCE IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ON D-DAY, JUNE 6, 1944, OPERATION OVERLORD, THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE. KILLED IN ACTION SUNDAY, JUNE 18, 1944 IN THE VICINITY OF PONT L’LABBE, FRANCE AND IS BURIED IN THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: THE PURPLE HEART WAS AWARDED POSTHUMOUSLY. HIS DIVISION WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 1 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE FOURRAGERE, BELGIAN CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM, BELGIAN FOURRAGERE AND THE NETHERLANDS ORANGE LANYARD FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES.