World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Arnold Joseph Cissna
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Pharaoh, Oklahoma
Honored By
Pearl Thomas
He and the 249th Engineer Combat Battalion entered France across Utah Beach in August 1944 and by mid-December were on the German border. On December 19, the 249th began its 100-mile move north to support the southern counterattack against the German thrust into the Ardennes. Now attached to the 26th Infantry Division, his Company C was ordered on Christmas Eve to relieve unknown elements of the 4th Armored Division in Arsdorf, Luxembourg. His platoon came under heavy fire from a much larger enemy force. He ordered his men to withdraw while he elected to stay behind to cover their withdrawal; he fought on alone until he was killed. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.