World War II Honoree

John J. Sweeney

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Boston, Massachusetts

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: 1ST LIEUTENANT. HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE UNITED STATES ARMY MARCH 2, 1942 AT BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT AFTER HIS GRADUATION FROM THE FIELD ARTILLERY OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL ‘OCS’, WITH THE CLASS OF 32-42 AT FORT SILL, OKLAHOMA. SERVED AS AN AIRBORNE ARTILLERY OBSERVER ASSIGNED TO THE U.S. ARMY, 153RD FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION, 10TH ARMORED ‘TIGER’ DIVISION ATTACHED TO THE UNITED STATES 3RD ARMY. KILLED IN ACTION FRIDAY, DECEMBER 01, 1944 DURING THE GERMAN'S ARDENNES OFFENSIVE BATTLE, THE ARDENNES-ALSACE CAMPAIGN. HE WAS BURIED IN A BATTLEFIELD CEMETERY IN BELGIUM AND AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN EUROPE, HIS REMAINS WERE TRANSFERRED, WITH INTERMENT IN THE HENRI-CHAPELLE AMERICAN CEMETERY LOCATED AT HENRI-CHAPELLE, BELGIUM. DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS: SILVER STAR, AIR MEDAL AND THE PURPLE HEART. THE SILVER STAR WAS AWARDED TO THE LIEUTENANT FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY AND INTREPIDITY IN ACTION AGAINST THE ENEMY. THE AIR MEDAL WAS AWARDED FOR MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT WHILE PARTICIPATING IN AERIAL FLIGHT AND THE PURPLE HEART FOR HIS ULTIMATE SACRIFICE IN DEFENSE OF HIS COUNTRY.