World War II Honoree

Richard A. Herman

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Milford, Connecticut

Honored By

Robert A. Fiore

SERVED 1941 TO 1946. ENLISTED IN THE ARMY IN JANUARY 1941 FOR WHAT HE THOUGHT TO BE A ONE YEAR COMMITMENT. WHEN THE JAPANESE BOMBED PEARL HARBOR ON DECEMBER 7, 1941, HOWEVER, HIS MILITARY SERVICE WAS EXTENDED FOR THE DURATION OF THE WAR. UPON COMPLETION OF OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL, HE WAS COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT ASSIGNED TO THE 86TH INFANTRY DIVISION. WHEN THE 86TH DIVISION BECAME PART OF GENERAL GEORGE PATTON’S 3RD ARMY, HE CROSSED EUROPE THROUGH FRANCE, BELGIUM, GERMANY AND AUSTRIA; HE WAS AWARDED A BRONZE STAR FOR MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT IN CONNECTION WITH MILITARY OPERATIONS AGAINST THE ENEMY IN GERMANY ON 15 APRIL 1945. AS THE ALLIES DECLARED VICTORY IN EUROPE, THE 86TH DIVISION WAS RE-DEPLOYED TO THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS WHERE HE WAS PROMOTED TO CAPTAIN BEFORE BEING HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1946.