World War II Honoree

Herman Pheffer

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Brooklyn, New York

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

Relationship

Relationship Not Determined

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE AND TRAINED INITIALLY IN THE AMERICAN THEATER FOR BASIC ENTRY-LEVEL TRAINING, AND THEN FOR ADVANCED MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY (MOS) QUALIFICATION. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER, IN THE NORTH AFRICAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (NATOUSA), AND THE MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTOUSA). AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART FOR WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON. DURING WWII, SOME 25,000 SERVICE PERSONNEL LOST LIMBS. HE LOST BOTH LEGS. THERE WERE LIMITED FIRSTHAND RESOURCES AVAILABLE IN THE UNITED STATES TO FULLY CARE FOR AND REHABILITATE THEM. HE JOINED AN AMERICAN LEGION MORALE TEAM TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. HE AND OTHER HANDICAPPED AMPUTEE VETERANS TRAVELLED THE COUNTRY DURING THE WAR, VISITING HOSPITALS, BUSINESSES AND FACTORIES, PROVIDING INSPIRATION, REHABILITATION TRAINING, AND EDUCATING THOSE AMPUTEES AND THEIR LOVED ONES, BUSINESS OWNERS AND THE GENERAL POPULATION ON CARE AND TREATMENT.