World War II Honoree

Harry A. Pinson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Clearwater County, Idaho

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY SEPTEMBER 20, 1940 AT FORT GEORGE WRIGHT, WASHINGTON. SERVED IN EUROPE WITH A-COMPANY, 507TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 17TH AIRBORNE ‘GOLDEN TALONS’ DIVISION. ON MARCH 24, 1945 HE PARTICIPATED IN THE LAST FULL SCALE AIRBORNE DROP OF WORLD WAR II, CODE NAME: OPERATION VARSITY, IN WHICH HE WAS KILLED. HE JUMPED INTO THE SOUTHERN EDGE OF THE DIERSFORDTER FOREST IN THE AREA OF WESEL, GERMANY AND IS BURIED IN THE NETHERLANDS AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT MARGRATEN, NETHERLANDS. DECORATION AND CITATION: THE SOLDIER WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART FOR HIS SUPREME SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.