World War II Honoree

Louis P. Damore

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

East Douglas, Massachusetts

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ONE OF THE ‘BOYS OF DOUGLAS’ WHO SERVED DURING THE WAR. VOLUNTEERED FOR DUTY WITH ARMY AIRBORNE FORCES, SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED AIRBORNE (PARATROOPER) TRAINING, AND WAS AWARDED HIS SILVER PARACHUTIST BADGE (WINGS). SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER, IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO), WITH THE 504TH PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT, 82ND AIRBORNE 'ALL AMERICAN' DIVISION. HIS UNIT WAS MOVED TO THE FRONT ON DECEMBER 17, 1944 IN RESPONSE TO THE GERMAN ARDENNES COUNTEROFFENSIVE. THE DIVISION ATTACKED ON DECEMBER 20, 1944 IN THE VIELSALM-ST. VITH REGION OF BELGIUM AND HIS REGIMENT TOOK THE TOWN OF MONCEAU AND FORCED THE GERMANS BACK ACROSS THE AMBLEVE RIVER. HIS UNIT GAINED AND LOST GROUND IN A SERIES OF ENGAGEMENTS BUT ULTIMATELY THEIR EFFORTS BROKE THE GERMAN MOMENTUM AND HELPED RESTORE THE "BULGE" BEFORE GOING BACK ON THE ATTACK. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, SILVER STAR FOR GALLANTRY IN ACTION AGAINST THE ENEMY DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. AUTHORIZED THE NETHERLANDS ORANGE LANYARD FOR HIS REGIMENT BEING CITED AND AWARDED THE NETHERLANDS MILITARY ORDER OF WILLIAM FOR OPERATIONS AT NIJMEGEN, HOLLAND. AUTHORIZED THE BELGIAN FOURRAGERE FOR HIS REGIMENT BEING CITED TWICE IN THE ORDER OF THE DAY OF THE BELGIAN ARMY FOR CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY IN COMBAT IN THE ARDENNES AND AGAIN IN BELGIUM AND GERMANY. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.