World War II Honoree

Clarence Oestreich

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Linn, Kansas

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

Relationship

Relationship Not Determined

HE WORKED AS A CIVILIAN ON CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW ARMY PLANT IN KANSAS. HE WAS WORKING THERE WHEN HE RECEIVED HIS NOTICE TO REPORT FOR MILITARY SERVICE. HE REPORTED TO FORT LEAVENWORTH AT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS AND THEN WAS REASSIGNED TO FORT SILL AT LAWTON, OKLAHOMA. HE TRAINED AT FORT SILL AND WAS REASSIGNED TO LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, WHERE HE JOINED A NEW UNIT BEING FORMED. HE SHIPPED OVERSEAS WITH A TANK DESTROYER BATTALION. HE SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER, IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO), INCLUDING IN FRANCE, LUXEMBOURG, AND GERMANY. AS A TANK MECHANIC, HE WAS RARELY IN FIGHTING OPERATIONS, BUT WAS BUSY WITH CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF TANK DESTROYER TRACKED AND WHEELED VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT. HIS UNIT SERVED UNDER GENERAL PATTON'S THIRD ARMY. HE BELIEVED THAT GENERAL PATTON WAS A HARD MAN BUT HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING. HE REMAINED IN HIS TANK DESTROYER UNIT UNTIL THE WAR ENDED. SERVED DURING THE WAR AND WAS AWARDED THE DRIVER AND MECHANIC BADGE WITH TRACKED VEHICLE MECHANIC QUALIFICATION BAR, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF PRIVATE FIRST CLASS AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.