World War II Honoree

Francis Joseph Fennessy

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Troy, New York

Honored By

Friends of American Heroes

He proudly served his country when after graduating high school he enlisted in 1943 in the U.S. Army during WWII. As a Private he was sent overseas where he served as a rifleman to fight with the 134th Infantry Division. On February 26, 1945, in Hilfarth, Germany, his unit reached a bridge spanning the Roer River. It was discovered that the bridge had a tremendous demolition charge beneath it and he volunteered to locate an engineer unit which he managed to do although being pinned down at times by enemy machine gun and artillery fire. He led the engineer unit to the bridge and they removed the demolition charge so his unit could cross safely. He received a Bronze Star for heroic service and was honorably discharged later in 1945.