World War II Honoree

Thomas Spotswood 'Tom' Yancey

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

Relationship

Relationship Not Determined

SERVED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER IN CALIFORNIA, OREGON, AND TEXAS FOR TRAINING AND PREPARATION FOR COMBAT OPERATIONS. HIS DIVISION STAGED AT CAMP KILMER AT STELTON, NEW JERSEY ON JANUARY 14, 1945, AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED FROM THE NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION ON JANUARY 17, 1945, AND ARRIVED AT LE HAVRE, FRANCE ON JANUARY 30, 1945. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER, IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO), WITH THE 13TH ARMORED 'BLACK CATS' DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE RHINELAND, AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. THE DIVISION WAS INITIALLY EMPLOYED IN OCCUPATION DUTIES. IT ENTERED GERMANY ON APRIL 3, 1945, AND DEPLOYED TO HOMBERG, NEAR KASSEL, GERMANY ON APRIL 8, 1945, TO PARTICIPATE IN OPERATIONS AGAINST THE RUHR POCKET. HIS DIVISION ATTACKED ACROSS THE SIEG RIVER, REACHED THE TOWN OF SIEGBURG, GERMANY AND ESTABLISHED A BRIDGEHEAD OVER THE AGGER RIVER. IT ATTACKED ON APRIL 13, 1945, ADVANCED AGAINST STRONG OPPOSITION TO THE WUPPER RIVER IN THE OPLADEN, GERMANY AREA ON APRIL 15, 1945, AND CROSSED THE RIVER THE NEXT DAY. IT PUSHED THROUGH RATINGEN, GERMANY TO THE RHINE RIVER ON APRIL 18, 1945. HIS UNIT THEN PREPARED FOR OPERATIONS IN BAVARIA, ATTACKED ON APRIL 27, 1945, ADVANCED ALONG THE DANUBE RIVER TO THE ISAR RIVER AT PLATTING, GERMANY ON APRIL 28, 1945. THE DIVISION ARRIVED AT THE INN RIVER AND TOOK THE TOWN OF BRAUNAU, GERMANY ON MAY 2, 1945. THE 13TH ARMORED DIVISION ASSEMBLED NORTH OF THE INN RIVER ON MAY 3, 1945, AND WAS IN THAT POSITION WHEN GERMANY UNCONDITIONALLY SURRENDERED TO THE ALLIES AND HOSTILITIES WERE DECLARED ENDED ON MAY 7, 1945. THE SURRENDER CAME INTO FORCE ON MIDNIGHT ON MAY 8-9, ENDING THE WAR IN EUROPE. PRESIDENT TRUMAN ANNOUNCED THE ALLIED VICTORY IN EUROPE DAY (V-E DAY) ON MAY 8, 1945. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE SERVICE STAR DEVICES (2 CAMPAIGNS), WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH ‘GERMANY’ CLASP. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.