World War II Honoree

Clement A. Drabnis

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Middleport, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: STAFF SERGEANT. INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY NOVEMBER 24, 1942 AT ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA. HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE VAST ARMADA THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, D-DAY JUNE 6, 1944, OPERATION OVERLORD. SERVED WITH THE 38TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 2ND INFANTRY ‘INDIANHEAD-WARRIOR’ DIVISION ATTACHED TO THE U.S. 1ST ARMY. WHILE EMBARKING FROM HIS LANDING CRAFT, HE LANDED ON OMAHA BEACH 7 JUNE NEAR ST. LAURENT-SUR-MER. SEVERELY WOUNDED DURING THE ‘BATTLE OF NORMANDY’ AND WAS EVACUATED TO ENGLAND WHERE HE DIED OF HIS INJURIES TUESDAY, AUGUST 29, 1944 AND IS BURIED IN THE CAMBRIDGE AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: A BRONZE STAR AND THE PURPLE HEART WITH A BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER WERE AWARDED POSTHUMOUSLY. THE BRONZE STAR WAS AWARDED TO THE SERGEANT FOR BRAVERY, ACT OF MERIT AND MERITORIOUS SERVICE.