World War II Honoree

Irvin Eugene Gayhart

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Harveyton, Kentucky

Honored By

Edward Gayhart

Relationship

Family

HE WAS A RIFLEMAN IN I COMPANY, 329TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 83RD INFANTRY DIVISION. HE ENTERED SERVICE IN THE FALL OF 1943 AND WAS STATIONED AT FORT THOMAS, KENTUCKY. FROM DECEMBER 29, 1943 TO MAY 5, 1944, HE WAS STATIONED AT CAMP CROFT, NEAR SPARTANBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA, WHERE HE RECEIVED HIS BASIC TRAINING. ON MAY 5, 1944, HE WAS SENT TO FORT MEADE, MARYLAND. ON JUNE 24, 1944, HE SAILED TO ENGLAND. FROM THERE, HE WAS SHIPPED TO FRANCE. ON AUGUST 4, 1944, THE 83RD WAS GIVEN THE MISSION OF CLEARING 15,000 ENEMY SOLDIERS FROM THE ST. MALO PENINSULA. HE WAS WOUNDED BY ENEMY SNIPER FIRE AT CHATAUNEOUF, FRANCE, ON AUGUST 8, 1944, HE DIED AT 1:30 THE SAME DAY. HE WAS AWARDED, POSTHUMOUSLY, THE PURPLE HEART. HE WAS BURIED IN THE UNITED STATES MILITARY CEMETERY AT ST. JAMES, FRANCE.