World War II Honoree

Fred O. Drennan

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Barbour County, Alabama

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: CAPTAIN. HE WAS A PARATROOPER, WHO SERVED AS COMMANDER OF E-COMPANY, 2ND BATTALION, 502ND PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE ‘SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. PARACHUTED INTO THE AREA OF SAINT-MARTIN-DE-VARREVILLE, THE DESIGNATED DROP ZONE ON THE FRENCH COTENTIN PENINSULA IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS, 01:40 ON D-DAY, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944, BATTLE OF NORMANDY. THIS WAS THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, CODE NAME: OPERATION OVERLORD. HE DIED MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1944 OF WOUNDS SUFFERED IN COMBAT DURING THE INVASION OF HOLLAND, CODE NAME: OPERATION MARKET GARDEN AND WAS INTERRED IN A BATTLEFIELD CEMETERY. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN EUROPE, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO HIS FAMILY, FOR BURIAL IN THE PLEASANT PRAIRIE CEMETERY, BETHEL, MISSOURI. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS, SILVER STAR AND THE PURPLE HEART. THE SILVER STAR WAS AWARDED TO THE CAPTAIN FOR DISTINGUISHED GALLANTRY IN ACTION AND VALOR IN COMBAT IN THE FACE OF THE ENEMY. DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS WAS AWARDED POSTHUMOUSLY FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN CONNECTION WITH MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST AN ARMED ENEMY. HIS OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP, PERSONAL BRAVERY AND ZEALOUS DEVOTION TO DUTY AT THE COST OF HIS LIFE.