World War II Honoree

Edward J. Hanrahan, S.J.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Somerville, Massachusetts

Honored By

Mary Ellen Thoene

Relationship

Niece

ENLISTED IN THE U.S. ARMY IN JUNE, 1944 AT FORT DEVENS, MASSACHUSETTS AS A MEMBER OF THE 661ST FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION 8' HOWITZER. REPORTED TO FORT BRAGG, FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA FOR ARTILLERY TRAINING. ASSIGNED TO FT. LEONARD WOOD, MISSOURI THEN TO FORT SILL, OKLAHOMA, AND ON TO FORT SHANKS, NEW YORK FOR DEPLOYMENT TO LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND. DEPLOYED TO NORMANDY BEACH IN FRANCE IN DECEMBER 1944. THEN SENT TO FIGHT IN AACHEN AND BONN, GERMANY. DESTROYED THE REMAGEN BRIDGE AND THEN WENT ON TO BACKNANG, GERMANY. WHILE IN BACKNANG THE WAR IN GERMANY ENDED. LEFT GERMANY ON A TROOP SHIP AND HEADED TO PANAMA CANAL ZONE TO ENGAGE THE JAPANESE IN THE PACIFIC. HALF WAY DOWN THE ATLANTIC THE ATOM BOMBS WERE DROPPED ON JAPAN. THE TROOP SHIP TURNED AROUND AND HEADED IN NEW YORK. RETURNED TO BOSTON FOR V-J DAY ON AUGUST 6, 1945. CONTINUED ANOTHER NINE MONTHS IN FORT SILL, OKLAHOMA AS A CORPORAL IN CADRE TRAINING (TRAINING PROGRAM FOR NEW RECRUITS). REMAINED IN OKLAHOMA UNTIL HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM THE ARMY IN MAY 1946. RECEIVED ONE BATTLE STAR FOR THE RHINELAND CAMPAIGN IN GERMANY, THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN RIBBON, A WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AMERICAN THEATER CAMPAIGN UNIT MEDAL AND THE ARMY OCCUPATION OF GERMANY MEDAL.