World War II Honoree

Edward L. Effertz

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Chicago, Illinois

Honored By

Rosemarie Effertz

Relationship

Wife

Staff Sergeant-Platoon Sergeant(Anti-tank), Combat Infantryman. Inducted at Camp Grant, Rockford, Illinois, with basic training at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. Assigned to Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 423rd Infantry Regiment, 106th Infantry Division. Embarked aboard the ocean liner RMS Queen Elizabeth for England then LeHavre, France. Attached to the U.S. First Army, was taken by truck convoy to the vicinity of St. Vith, Belgium. Was captured during the Battle of the Bulge and held as a Prisoner of War at Stalag IX-B, Bad Orb, Hesse, Germany. Upon liberation was flown home to Billy Mitchell Field, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. While awaiting the end of the war served as a guard of German Prisoners of War at Camp Bayfield, Wisconsin, then transferred to Fort Sheridan, Illinois, for separation from the service. Awarded the Purple Heart Medal with two Bronze Oak Leaves for wounds received during combat.