World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Richard A. Hallquist
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Rock Island County, Illinois
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
RANK: PRIVATE 1ST CLASS. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE UNITED STATES ARMY DECEMBER 22, 1942 AT PEORIA, ILLINOIS. SERVED IN EUROPE WITH THE 115TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 29TH INFANTRY ‘BLUE AND GRAY’ DIVISION ATTACHED TO THE UNITED STATES 1ST ARMY. PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF NORMANDY, D-DAY TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 1944, THE INVASION OF GERMANY’S FORTRESS EUROPE, CODE NAME: OPERATION OVERLORD. HIS REGIMENT LANDED ON OMAHA BEACH WITH THE FIRST WAVE, GOING ASHORE AT 06:30 HOURS WITH THE 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION, 2ND AND 5TH RANGER BATTALIONS. HE DIED OF WOUNDS SUFFERED IN COMBAT ON TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 1944 AND WAS BURIED IN THE TEMPORARY BATTLEFIELD CEMETERY AT CAMBE, FRANCE. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN EUROPE, HIS REMAINS WERE TRANSFERRED, WITH INTERMENT IN THE NORMANDY AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, FRANCE. DECORATION AND CITATION: THE SOLDIER WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART FOR HIS ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.