World War II Honoree

Charles W. Ehmka

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Saint Clair County, Michigan

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: CAPTAIN. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE VAST ARMADA THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, OPERATION OVERLORD ON TUESDAY, D-DAY JUNE 6, 1944. SERVED AS COMMANDER OF BRAVO COMPANY, 743RD TANK BATTALION SUPPORTING BOTH THE 1ST AND 29TH INFANTRY DIVISIONS ATTACHED TO THE U.S. 1ST ARMY, WHO LANDED ON OMAHA BEACH DURING THE AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT WITH THE 1ST WAVE AT 06:30 HOURS. KILLED IN ACTION ON THE DAY OF THE INVASION ‘BATTLE OF NORMANDY’ IN THE AREA OF VIERVILLE-SUR-MER ON THE FRENCH COASTLINE AND IS BURIED IN THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART. HIS BATTALION WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR EXCEPTIONAL VALOR AND HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES ON OMAHA BEACH.