World War II Honoree

Alfred Lee Fields

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Gage, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

DRAFTED INTO MILITARY SERVICE AT AGE 37, ALTHOUGH MARRIED WITH 4 CHILDREN. HIS DIVISION SAILED FROM THE BOSTON PORT OF EMBARKATION ON NOVEMBER 10, 1944 AND ARRIVED IN ENGLAND ON NOVEMBER 17, 1944. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH THE 106TH INFANTRY 'GOLDEN LION' DIVISION. AFTER TRAINING, HIS UNIT MOVED TO FRANCE ON DECEMBER 6, 1944. HE BECAME VERY SICK ABOARD SHIP AND WAS HOSPITALIZED IN FRANCE WHILE HIS UNIT MOVED INTO COMBAT. HE WAS TO JOIN THEM LATER, BUT THAT NEVER HAPPENED. HIS DIVISION WAS STRUCK BY THE GERMAN ARDENNES COUNTEROFFENSIVE IN WHAT BECAME KNOWN AS THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. MAJOR ELEMENTS OF THE DIVISION WERE CAPTURED, OTHERS PUSHED BACK, AND MANY SOLDIERS DIED. HIS ILLNESS QUITE PROBABLY SAVED HIS LIFE. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.