World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Frederick 'Fred' Colombe
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Winner, South Dakota
Honored By
Orville L. Kline
On July 1, 1943, he entered into the United States Army at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Served as a Paratrooper with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 187th Glider Infantry Regiment a subordinate unit of the 11th Airborne ‘Angeles’ Division in the South Pacific Theater of Operations. His division participated in the Invasion of Lingayen Gulf, Battle of Luzon against the Imperial Japanese armed forces (Battle Dates: January 9-August 15, 1945) Code Name: S-Day. Killed in Action Sunday, March 11, 1945 in the area of Tanah Hill on Luzon and buried in the United States Armed Forces Battlefield Cemetery, Manila #2 Philippine Islands. After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, his family received his remains for burial, with interment at the Saint Charles Catholic Cemetery at Saint Francis, South Dakota. This Soldier, a Native American citizen, a descendant of the Sioux ‘Rosebud’ tribe awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, who so gallantly gave his life for his country.