World War II Honoree

Gilbert Allis, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Jefferson County, Kentucky

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: 2ND LIEUTENANT. INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY JULY 21, 1942 AT MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN. SERVED AS 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. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO 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: SILVER STAR AND A PURPLE HEART. THE SILVER STAR WAS AWARDED TO THE LIEUTENANT FOR DISTINGUISHED GALLANTRY IN ACTION AND VALOR IN THE FACE OF THE ENEMY. HIS BATTALION WAS AWARDED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR EXCEPTIONAL VALOR AND HEROISM IN ACTION AGAINST THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES ON OMAHA BEACH.