World War II Honoree

Allen E. Becker

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Manitowoc, Wisconsin

Honored By

Sue Czerwinski

Relationship

Daughter

After distinguishing himself by obtaining sharpshooter status at Ft. Hood, TeXas, he was sent as a replacement to Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 357 Infantry Regiment, 90th Infantry Division of Patton's Third Army, ammunition bearer in the company's 60 mm mortar squad. When the Germans launched the Battle of the Bulge, his regiment was sent north into the gap. In the vicinity of Bastogne on January 12, 1945, he was wounded by a concussion round and was flung into a tree by the explosion. His regiment moved on, leaving him for dead. When he came to, he dragged himself 5 miles to an aide station and was shipped to England and later evacuated to Deshon General Hospital in Butler, PENNSYLVANIA, landing in the U.S. on APRIL 1, 1945. After 5 months recuperation and permanent hearing loss, he was released with an honorable discharge. RECEIVED the Combat Infantryman badge, Purple Heart, European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal, and Valor MEDAL. The 90th Division was the only division that General Patton officially recommended for the Presidential Unit Citation award.