World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Frederick B. Cruse
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Pawnee County, Oklahoma
Honored By
Robert S. Cox
HIS UNIT SAILED FROM THE NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION ON AUGUST 27, 1943 AND ARRIVED IN ENGLAND ON SEPTEMBER 16, 1943. HIS REGIMENT LANDED AT NORMANDY, FRANCE ON JUNE 25, 1944. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH THE 36TH ARMORED INFANTRY REGIMENT, 3RD ARMORED DIVISION DURING THE WAR, INCLUDING IN ENGLAND, AND FRANCE IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO). PARTICIPATED IN THE NORMANDY, AND NORTHERN FRANCE CAMPAIGNS. HIS DIVISION ENTERED COMBAT AGAINST THE VILLIERS-FOSSARD SALIENT NORTHEAST OF SAINT LO, FRANCE ON JUNE 29, 1944 AND ADVANCED TO THE HAUT-VENTS CROSSROADS IN HEAVY COMBAT BY JULY 11, 1944. HIS UNIT TOOK PART IN OPERATIONS TO CLOSE THE FALAISE GAP IN THE DOMFRONT AND RANES AREAS FROM AUGUST 13-15, 1944, AND FOUGHT AT FROMENTHAL ON AUGUST 16-17, 1944. TECHNICIAN FIFTH GRADE CRUSE DIED OF NON-BATTLE INJURIES ON AUGUST 20, 1944 WHILE OPERATING IN THE FROMENTHAL AREA IN WEST-CENTRAL FRANCE. POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS (2 CAMPAIGNS), AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.