World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Tommy Claudell Coats
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Plainview, Arkansas
Honored By
Robert S. Cox
SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH THE 101ST AIRBORNE 'SCREAMING EAGLES' DIVISION. HIS DIVISION PARTICIPATED IN THE NORMANDY, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. FOUGHT AT BASTOGNE, BELGIUM DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. HIS DIVISION ARRIVED AT BASTOGNE ON DECEMBER 19, 1944, WENT INTO DEFENSIVE POSITIONS, AND WAS SURROUNDED BY GERMAN FORCES THE NEXT DAY. DESPITE REPEATED ATTACKS, HIS DIVISION HELD OUT UNTIL REINFORCED ON DECEMBER 26, 1944. THE DIVISION WENT BACK ON THE ATTACK IN JANUARY, 1945. SERVED WITH OCCUPATION FORCES IN GERMANY, AND IN FRANCE AFTER THE END OF HOSTILITIES. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH ‘GERMANY’ CLASP. AUTHORIZED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS DIVISION AT BASTOGNE. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF STAFF SERGEANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.