World War II Honoree

Edward Finkenagel

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Central Islip, New York

Honored By

Michael McTiernan

He was inducted into the Army on March 9, 1943. Attached to Company K of the 142nd Infantry, he was sent overseas on October 13, 1943 and saw action in the front lines in Italy. On June 1, 1944, he was listed as missing in action, but a later report declared him a prisoner. After escaping from prison camp, he returned to his old unit and saw further action in the following battles and campaigns: Naples-Foggia, the Rhineland, Central Europe and Southern France. His longest and hardest drive was from the Riviera to the Vosges Mountains, which lasted forty days. During this period, there was very little time for meals or rest. The men slept only when the situation did not require movement and when the enemy was temporarily out of sight. Following the Riviera landing the regiment was in battle 133 consecutive days. He was awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal with Bronze Arrowhead, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Good Conduct Medal and the WWII Victory Medal. On November 30, 1945, he was honorably discharged at Fort Dix, New Jersey.