World War II Honoree

Eugene Duane Esget

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Lily, South Dakota

Honored By

Lisa M. Esget-Savoia

Relationship

Daughter

CONSCRIPTED INTO WWII BY THE ARMY IN APRIL 1941; HE WAS STATIONED AT WILLIAMS FIELD, CHANDLER, ARIZONA WITH THE 535TH SQUADRON. HE WAS THEN STATIONED AT CAMP HOWZE, TEXAS FOR INFANTRY TRAINING. SHIPPED OVERSEAS WITH GENERAL PATTON'S 80TH INFANTRY DIVISION AS A SERGEANT. ON MARCH 15, 1945 HE WENT MISSING IN ACTION FOR SEVERAL DAYS; HE WAS SHOT MULTIPLE TIMES AND STILL HAS SCHRAPNEL IN HIS LUNGS AND LEG. BEFORE HIS DISCHARGE, HE WAS GUARDING A SMALL TOWN IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA WITH A RUSSIAN CAMP NEARBY. WAS DISCHARGED DECEMBER 20, 1945 AT FORT LEWIS. RECEIVED THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, BRONZE STAR, GOOD CONDUCT, ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL FOR GERMANY CAMPAIGN, AIR FORCE TRAINING RIBBONS, MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION, ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER RIBBON WITH FOUR STARS, AND COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE.