World War II Honoree

Howard L. Beish

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Clearfield, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Mrs. Audrey Beish Moore

Relationship

Sister

MASTER SERGEANT. SERIAL NUMBER 33258985. SERVED WITH THE 3RD ARMY IN THE 94TH DIVISION, 302ND INFANTRY, COMPANY F, FROM 1942 TO 1945. THIS DIVISION DISTINGUISHED ITSELF AS THE FIRST INFANTRY REGIMENT IN THE U.S. ARMY TO QUALIFY AS AN EXPERT INFANTRY REGIMENT. THIS DESIGNATION WAS ONLY AWARDED TO UNITS THAT PASSED TESTS MEASURING THE INDIVIDUAL SOLDIER’S FITNESS AND ABILITY TO PERFORM TO STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE IN CERTAIN CRITICAL INFANTRY SKILLS. ARRIVED IN ENGLAND IN 1944, BY SEPTEMBER THE DIVISION HAD CROSSED UTAH BEACH AND WAS ENGAGED IN COMBAT IN LORIENT AND ST. NAZAIRE ON THE BRITTANY PENINSULA IN FRANCE. IN JANUARY 1945 THE 94TH DIVISION BEGAN ATTACKS AGAINST WHAT WAS KNOWN AS THE WEST WALL, A SERIES OF FORMIDABLE TERRAIN OBSTACLES; MAJOR RIVERS, MOUNTAINS AND FORESTS WHICH WERE MADE MORE DIFFICULT BY THE WORST WEATHER IN 30 YEARS. LATE IN FEBRUARY THIS WEST WALL WAS BREACHED AND THE DIVISION CLEARED THE SAAR-MOSELLE TRIANGLE AND IN A SERIES OF BATTLES CONTINUED TO ATTACK THE ENEMY ACROSS GERMANY TO THE RHINE RIVER. DURING ITS COMBAT ACTION OF 221 DAYS OF 256 DAYS IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER THE DIVISION SUFFERED 1,009 DEATHS AND 4,789 WOUNDED SOLDIERS OCCURRING IN CAMPAIGNS OF NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE, BATTLE OF THE BULGE AND CENTRAL EUROPE. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE WAR IN EUROPE THE 94TH DIVISION ASSUMED MILITARY GOVERNMENT DUTIES IN KREFELD AND DUSSELDORF, GERMANY AND FINALLY AROUND THE CITY OF STRAKONICE, CZECHOSLOVAKIA. HE RECEIVED 2 PURPLE HEARTS, A BRONZE STAR FOR THE CAPTURE OF THE TOWN OF ORSHOLZ, GERMANY.