World War II Honoree

James K. 'Jim' Pendergast

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Bridgeport, Connecticut

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED AT CAMP GRUBER AT BRAGGS, OKLAHOMA IN THE AMERICAN THEATER BEGINNING IN 1943. SAILED FROM THE NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION WITH HIS UNIT ON JULY 2, 1944 AND ARRIVED IN ENGLAND ON JULY 12, 1944. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH THE 557TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION. PARTICIPATED IN THE NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. HIS UNIT LANDED IN FRANCE ON AUGUST 12, 1944, FOUGHT AT BREST, FRANCE; IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE; UP THE WEST SIDE OF THE RHINE RIVER; CROSSED THE RHINE AT WESEL, GERMANY ON MARCH 31, 1945; AND SUPPORTED THE FINAL 300-MILE DASH TO THE ELBE RIVER AT ARNEBURG TO MEET WITH SOVIET FORCES. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.