World War II Honoree

Francis J. Pandolph

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Woburn, Massachusetts

Honored By

Friend

TECHNICAL SERGEANT, SERVED WITH THE BLUE DEVILS OF THE 88TH INFANTRY DIVISION, 350TH REGIMENT, F COMPANY, FROM IT'S INCEPTION. SAILED TO CASABLANCA IN NORTH AFRICA AND TRAINED THERE IN PREPARATION FOR THE INVASION OF ITALY. LANDED IN NAPLES IN FEBRUARY 1944 AND BEGAN THE PUSH AGAINST THE GUSTAV LINE. HE WAS PART OF THE FIRST GROUP OF AMERICAN TROOPS TO ENTER THE CITY OF ROME IN JUNE 4, 1944. HE WAS SEVERELY WOUNDED ON JULY 16, 1944, IN THE ROME-ARNO CAMPAIGN, AND WAS RETURNED TO THE U.S. WHERE HE SPENT 32 MONTHS IN THE WALTER REED ARMY HOSPITAL. WHILE THERE HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN WORKING TO ENACT LEGISLATION ENSURING EACH RETURNING VETERAN WITH A LEG AMPUTATION WHO COULD DRIVE WITH A PROSTHETIC LEG WAS GIVEN A CAR AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL.