World War II Honoree

Jimmy Birdsong

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH THE 3RD INFANTRY 'MARNE' DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE SOUTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, AND ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE) CAMPAIGNS. SEVERELY WOUNDED IN ACTION BY A SNIPER ON FEBRUARY 1, 1945 DURING OPERATIONS SOME FIVE MILES INSIDE GERMANY, DURING THE DIVISION'S OFFENSIVE AGAINST THE COLMAR POCKET. THE 19-YEAR OLD WAS PROVIDING AID TO TWO WOUNDED COMRADES AT THE TIME HE WAS SHOT. HE WAS SAVED FROM DEATH BY A STEEL-PLATED BIBLE HIS MOTHER HAD GIVEN HIM AS HE WENT OFF TO WAR. THE SNIPER'S BULLET HIT HIM IN THE BREAST POCKET OF HIS UNIFORM WHERE HE CARRIED THE BIBLE, RICOCHETED AND PASSED THROUGH HIS RIGHT ARM. THREE OF HIS RIBS WERE SHATTERED AND HE LAY IN THE STREET FOR SOME TWO HOURS IN THE SNOW BEFORE HE WAS ABLE TO BE RESCUED. AS HE WAS BEING MEDICALLY EVACUATED, A FELLOW SOLDIER GAVE HIM A GOLD WATCH, WITH THE SNIPER'S INITIALS ENGRAVED ON THE BACK, AS A WAR MEMENTO. HE WAS HOSPITILIZED IN FRANCE AND ENGLAND BEFORE RETURNING TO THE UNITED STATES. AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE ARROWHEAD DEVICE AND 3 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. AUTHORIZED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS DIVISION AT COLMAR. AWARDED THE FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM FOR ACTIONS BY HIS REGIMENT AT COLMAR. AUTHORIZED THE FRENCH FOURRAGERE FOR HIS REGIMENT BEING CITED TWICE FOR THE CROIX DE GUERRE. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.