World War II Honoree

Harold Burt Coleman

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Detroit, Michigan

Relationship

Self

IN OCTOBER 1942, HE ENLISTED IN THE ARMY'S ENLISTED RESERVE CORPS WHILE IN THE SENIOR ROTC AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 100TH INFANTRY DIVISION IN THE U.S. AND EUROPE AS A COMBAT INFANTRY SOLDIER. INITIALLY, HE WAS AN 81MM MORTAR GUNNER, HOWEVER MOST OF HIS TIME IN COMBAT WAS SPENT AS A FORWARD OBSERVER FOR THE MORTARS AND ARTILLERY CARRYING A 50 LB. RADIO. FOR HIS SERVICE HE WAS AWARDED A COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, A SILVER STAR, A BRONZE STAR, 3 PURPLE HEARTS, A UNIT PRESIDENTIAL CITATION, AND AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE IN JANUARY 1946.