World War II Honoree

Ellsworth Cundiff

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Stillwater, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED AS AN OFFICER WITH THE OKLAHOMA NATIONAL GUARD AND WAS CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY WITH THE 45TH DIVISION ON JULY 22, 1941. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER ATTACHED TO THE INTELLIGENCE STAFF WITH HEADQUARTERS & HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, 179TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 45TH INFANTRY 'THUNDERBIRD' DIVISION. CAPTAIN CUNDIFF WAS LISTED AS MISSING IN ACTION IN THE NORTH AFRICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS, DURING THE NAPLES-FOGGIA CAMPAIGN, ON SEPTEMBER 14, 1943; SHORTLY AFTER THE 'OPERATION AVALANCHE' LANDINGS AT SALERNO, ITALY ON SEPTEMBER 9, 1943. HIS STATUS WAS LATER CHANGED TO 'CAPTURED' AND HE SPENT THE REST OF THE WAR AS A PRISONER OF WAR OF THE GERMANS. REPATRIATED AFTER THE WAR. AWARDED THE PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.