World War II Honoree

Thomas E. Downey, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Lafayette, Illinois

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Sergeant. Served in the European Theater of Operations and experienced combat as a member of Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, a subordinate unit of the Third Infantry ‘Rock of the Marne’ Division, attached to the United States Seventh Army. He participated in the amphibious assault landing in the invasion of Southern France (Battle Dates: August 15-September 14, 1944), Code Name: Operation Dragon. Killed in Action Monday, March 26, 1945 during a combat operation on the Siegfried Line in the area of Zweibrucken, Germany and buried in the Saint Avold battlefield cemetery in Metz, France. After the cessation of hostilities in Europe, his remains were returned to his family, with interment in the Mound Cemetery in Charleston, Illinois. This Soldier, an American Patriot, so gallantly gave his life for his country.