World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Gerald F. Adams
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Oxford, Maine
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: PRIVATE. INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY JANUARY 13, 1943 AT PORTLAND, MAINE. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ASSIGNED TO 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, THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, OPERATION OVERLORD. KILLED IN ACTION ON THE DAY OF THE INVASION, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944 IN THE VICINITY OF STE.-MERE-EGLISE AND IS BURIED IN THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART. 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 EXCEPTIONAL VALOR AND HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES.