World War II Honoree

David Olen Norvell

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Wynnewood, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

DRAFTED INTO MILITARY SERVICE AT AGE 20. SERVED THREE YEARS, INCLUDING OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH THE 1ST ARMORED DIVISION DURING THE WAR. PARTICIPATED IN OPERATIONS IN ITALY, INCLUDING AT ANZIO AS PART OF A COMBAT COMMAND FOR SOME FIVE MONTHS DURING SEEMINGLY UNRELENTING FIGHTING. RECALLS THAT HE WAS ONLY ABLE TO TAKE ONE SHOWER OVER THE FIVE-MONTH PERIOD, AND THAT WAS DURING ENEMY SHELLING. HE WAS ASSIGNED DUTIES TO ASSIST BRITISH FORCES WITH FIRE AND RECONNAISSANCE OPERATIONS. AFTER ANZIO, HIS DIVISION FOUGHT ON TO ROME, LIBERATED THE CITY AND THEN MOVED ON TO GERMANY. HE HELPED SAVE A FELLOW SOLDIER'S LIFE DURING ONE ACTION. THE SOLDIER HAD BEEN HIT BY SHRAPNEL THAT PIERCED BOTH LUNGS. AS THE SOLDIER WAS TOO HEAVY TO CARRY, HE FOUND A TENT AND USED IT TO DRAG THE SOLDIER DOWN A HILL AND SOME 300 YARDS TO SAFETY. THE SOLDIER SURVIVED, THANKS TO HIS EFFORTS. AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF TECHNICIAN FOURTH GRADE AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.