World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Hugh J. Akins
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: CORPORAL. INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY NOVEMBER 2, 1942 AT GREENSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS ASSIGNED TO THE REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS, 508TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 82ND AIRBORNE ‘ALL AMERICAN’ DIVISION. KILLED IN ACTION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1944 DURING THE INVASION OF HOLLAND, OPERATION MARKET GARDEN. HE IS BURIED IN THE NETHERLANDS AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT MARGRATEN, NETHERLANDS. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART. HIS DIVISION WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH 1 BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM FOR SAINTE-MERE-EGLISE, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM FOR COTENTIN, FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE FOURRAGERE, BELGIAN FOURRAGERE 1940 AND THE NETHERLANDS ORANGE LANYARD FOR EXCEPTIONAL VALOR AND HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES.