World War II Honoree

Orville O. 'Bill' Munson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Wessington Springs, South Dakota

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

JOINED THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS (CCC) AFTER HIGH SCHOOL. SERVED WITH THE CCC, A U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAM TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT. DRAFTED INTO MILITARY SERVICE; APPLIED FOR AND WAS ACCEPTED FOR OFFICER TRAINING, AND UPON COMPLETION OF OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL WAS COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT. SERVED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER, INCLUDING AT FORT GRUBER AT BRAGGS, OKLAHOMA. HIS GROUP SAILED OVERSEAS ON AUGUST 21, 1943, ARRIVED IN NORTH AFRICA ON SEPTEMBER 3, 1943, AND LANDED IN ITALY ON OCTOBER 10, 1943. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER IN ITALY WITH THE 1108TH ENGINEER COMBAT GROUP. HIS GROUP PARTICIPATED IN THE NAPLES-FOGGIA, ROME-ARNO, NORTH APENNINES, AND PO VALLEY CAMPAIGNS. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART FOR WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM FOR ACTIONS BY HIS UNIT IN COMBAT. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF MAJOR AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.