World War II Honoree
Killed In Action
Orley D. Moninger
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Washington County, Pennsylvania
Honored By
Robert S. Cox
SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH B COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 179TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 45TH INFANTRY 'THUNDERBIRD' DIVISION. HIS REGIMENT REACHED THE 'WEST WALL' IN THE ZWEIBRUCKEN AREA IN RHINELAND, GERMANY ON MARCH 17, 1945. TOOK PART IN THE CAPTURE OF HOMBURG, GERMANY ON MARCH 20, 1945, AND THE ADVANCE ACROSS THE RHINE RIVER NEAR HAMM, GERMANY ON MARCH 26, 1945. FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE FOR ASCHAFFENBURG, GERMANY FROM MARCH 28-APRIL 3, 1945; AND THEN THE BATTLE FOR NUREMBERG, GERMANY FROM APRIL 16-20, 1945, DURING OPERATIONS IN BAVARIA. HIS UNIT ATTACKED ACROSS THE DANUBE RIVER IN BAVARIA ON APRIL 26, 1945 TOWARD MUNICH, GERMANY. PRIVATE FIRST CLASS MONINGER WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON APRIL 29, 1945 DURING THE CAPTURE OF MUNICH, DURING THE CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGN. HIS DEATH WAS 8 DAYS BEFORE GERMANY UNCONDITIONALLY SURRENDERED TO THE ALLIES ON MAY 7, 1945. POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.