World War II Honoree

Charles W. Ward

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

Relationship

Relationship Not Determined

GRADUATED FROM MILITARY SCHOOL IN TENNESSEE. ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE AT AGE 18. VOLUNTEERED FOR OFFICER TRAINING, GRADUATED FROM OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL (OCS) AND WAS COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT OF INFANTRY. JOINED THE 2ND INFANTRY REGIMENT, 5TH INFANTRY 'RED DIAMOND' DIVISION IN NORTHERN IRELAND, FOR TRAINING TO INVADE EUROPE. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER, IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO). HIS REGIMENT LANDED AT UTAH BEACH IN NORMANDY, FRANCE ON JULY 9, 1944. HIS DIVISION WAS ATTACHED TO GENERAL PATTON'S THIRD ARMY ON AUGUST 1,1944, AND BEGAN THE BATTLE FOR METZ, FRANCE ON SEPTEMBER 7, 1944. HIS REGIMENT WAS ATTACHED TO THE 2ND ARMORED 'HELL ON WHEELS' DIVISION FROM SEPTEMBER 10-15, 1944. HE PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE FOR METZ FROM SEPTEMBER TO NOVEMBER 1944. HE WAS PRESENTED THE SILVER STAR BY GENERAL PATTON FOR HIS HEROISM DURING THE BATTLE FOR METZ. HE WAS WOUNDED DURING THE ACTION BUT LED HIS DEPLETED COMPANY IN AN ATTACK AND CAPTURE OF ENTRENCHED ENEMY POSITIONS. THE GERMAN ARDENNES COUNTEROFFENSIVE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE) BEGAN ON DECEMBER 16, 1944, AND HIS DIVISION WAS TASKED TO REDUCE THE SOUTHERN FLANK OF THE GERMAN DRIVE. HIS REGIMENT PARTICIPATED IN THE NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. ALSO AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL WITH BRONZE LETTER 'V' (FOR VALOR) DEVICE, PURPLE HEART FOR WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 SILVER STAR (5 CAMPAIGNS), AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. AWARDED THE FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH BRONZE PALM FOR ACTIONS BY HIS UNIT IN FRANCE. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF CAPTAIN AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.