World War II Honoree

Alan P. Atwell

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Breesport, New York

Honored By

M. Lynett

Graduated from Breesport High School and a few days later he visited the Selective Service Board and was drafted. He was assigned to the 28th Infantry Division and landed at Omaha Beach in Normandy three months after the D-Day landings on Labor Day, 1944. He still faced German fire and debris leftover from the battles that engulfed the beaches there for the months prior. Awarded many military and civic awards and honors, including the Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and European Theater of Operations (with four battle stars). He received a French Legion of Honor Medal in 2012 and was inducted into the Legion for their help in liberating France from the Germans.