World War II Honoree

Oral J. Molden

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Jackson, Michigan

Honored By

Nina J. May

DRAFTED AND WAS FOUND TO BE LEGALLY BLIND IN ONE EYE. CHOSE TO SERVE ANYWAY. WENT INTO THE COAST ARTILLERY AT SAULT ST. MARIE. HIS FAMILY WAS ASSURED THAT HE WOULD NOT BE SENT OVERSEAS BECAUSE OF HIS EYE. HE SUDDENLY STOPPED WRITING HOME; HIS FAMILY FINALLY HEARD FROM HIM AND HE WAS IN FRANCE. SERVED WITH COMPANY G, 104TH INFANTRY, 3RD ARMY IN FRANCE AND GERMANY. SPENT THE WHOLE WAR IN COMBAT. LOST HIS ENTIRE GROUP OF REPLACEMENTS AT LEAST 3 TIMES. COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY ALL HIS 'BOYS' AND NEVER HIM. WAS WOUNDED IN GERMANY WHEN ALL HIS MEN WERE KILLED. RIPPED OFF HIS MEDALS AFTER THE WAR AND THREW THEM ON THE GROUND, AS HE SAID 'THE DEAD BOYS EARNED THEM'. OF COURSE, THEY RIPPED OFF HIS STRIPES AND SENT HIM HOME AS PRIVATE FIRST CLASS. THEY DID SEND ALL OF HIS MEDALS BACK: BRONZE STAR; FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE; PURPLE HEART. HE CARRIED THOSE YOUNG MEN ALL HIS LIFE IN HIS HEART.