World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Willie Ramirez
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Bent County, Colorado
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: PRIVATE. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY MARCH 20, 1941 IN NEW MEXICO. AFTER PARATROOPER TRAINING, HE SERVED WITH D-COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 506TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 101ST AIRBORNE ‘SCREAMING EAGLES’ DIVISION. IN THE BATTLE OF NORMANDY, HE PARACHUTED INTO THE SAINT COME-DU-MONT (BEAUMONT) AREA 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. KILLED IN ACTION THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 1944 DURING THE BATTLE FOR CARENTAN, FRANCE AND HE IS BURIED IN THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE. DECORATION AND CITATION: THE SOLDIER WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART FOR HIS SUPREME SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.