World War II Honoree

Radford L. Gearlds

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Tompkinsville, Kentucky

Honored By

Ms. Gearlds Ranese

Relationship

Wife

Enlisted in the Army on October 31, 1940 and underwent Basic Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He was a Gun Crewman, light artillery, in Battery B of the 91st, first Theater on June 11. He was involved in two major engagements: the Tunisian and the Italian Campaigns. He was badly wounded on February 29, 1944 during the Italian Campaign on the Anzio beachhead when he was struck by shell fragments. Due to his injuries, he left the European Theater on October 21, 1944 and arrived in the U.S. on November 7, 1944 after nearly 2 and a half years of foreign service. He was a Private when he was discharged at Camp Atterbury, Indiana on December 30, 1944. Decorations and medals received were the Purple Heart and Medal, American Defense Ribbon and two Bronze Stars.