World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Fred A. Owens
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Gibson County, Indiana
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: CAPTAIN. HE WAS A PARATROOPER, WHO SERVED WITH THE SERVICE COMPANY, 501ST PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE ‘SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. PARACHUTED INTO THE AREA OF ANGOVILLE-AU-PLAIN, BATTLE OF NORMANDY ON THE FRENCH COTENTIN PENINSULA IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS, 01:40, D-DAY, TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944. THIS WAS THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, CODE NAME: OPERATION OVERLORD. PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF HOLLAND, CODE NAME: OPERATION, MARKET GARDEN WITH HIS 2ND COMBAT JUMP. KILLED IN ACTION TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 1945 WHILE FIGHTING IN THE DEFENSE OF BASTOGNE, BELGIUM DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE, ARDENNES-ALSACE CAMPAIGN. HE IS BURIED IN THE LUXEMBOURG AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT LUXEMBOURG CITY, LUXEMBOURG. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS: SILVER STAR AND THE PURPLE HEART WITH A BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER. THE SILVER STAR WAS BESTOWED UPON THE CAPTAIN FOR DISTINGUISHED GALLANTRY IN ACTION AND VALOR IN COMBAT IN THE FACE OF THE ENEMY IN THE NORMANDY CAMPAIGN; ALSO A PURPLE HEART FOR WOUNDS SUFFERED IN NORMANDY.