World War II Honoree

Thomas R. Owens

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Columbia, South Carolina

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

HIS UNIT WAS STATIONED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT CAMP BLANDING AT STARKE, FLORIDA, AT TULLAHOMA, TENNESSEE, AND AT CAMP ATTERBURY AT COLUMBUS, INDIANA. STAGED AT CAMP MYLES STANDISH AT BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS ON FEBRUARY 1, 1944 AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED FROM THE BOSTON PORT OF EMBARKATION ON FEBRUARY 11, 1944 AND ARRIVED IN ENGLAND ON FEBRUARY 22, 1944. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH COMPANY D, 1ST BATTALION, 119TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 30TH INFANTRY 'OLD HICKORY' DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE), AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. HIS REGIMENT LANDED ACROSS OMAHA BEACH IN NORMANDY, FRANCE ON JUNE 10, 1944 (D-DAY+4) AND FOUGHT IN FRANCE, BELGIUM, HOLLAND AND GERMANY. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART FOR WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH ‘GERMANY’ CLASP. AUTHORIZED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS BATTALION AT STOUMONT, BELGIUM. AWARDED THE FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH GOLD STAR FOR ACTIONS BY HIS REGIMENT AT STOUMONT AND HABIEMONT. ALSO AUTHORIZED THE BELGIAN FOURRAGERE FOR HIS DIVISION BEING CITED TWICE IN THE ORDER OF THE DAY OF THE BELGIAN ARMY FOR ACTIONS IN BELGIUM AND AGAIN IN THE ARDENNES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF SERGEANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.