World War II Honoree

Duane Wesley Hockman

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Winchester, Virginia

Honored By

Martha K. Hockman

Relationship

Wife

CORPORAL; DRAFTED INTO SERVICE IN MARCH 1943. SENT TO FORT KNOX, KENTUCKY AND TOOK ADVANCE TRAINING AT FORT CAMPBELL, KENTUCKY (TO BE TRAINED AS DRIVER OF A TANK DESTROYER). LANDED IN NORTH AFRICA INVASION IN 1943. MOVED TO ORAN-ALGIERS-TUNIS STAGING AREA AS 5TH ARMY UNDER GENERAL MARK CLARK FOR INVASION OF ITALY. INVADED AT SALERNO, NAPLES, FOGGIA (COMBAT); MOVED IN NOVEMBER 1943, AFTER BEING PULLED BACK SOUTH OF ROME. LANDED AT ANZIO AND WAS UNDER FIRE UNTIL MAY 1944; THEN SENT TO INVASION OF FRANCE. CAPTURED IN RHONE RIVER VALLEY IN SOUTHERN FRANCE ON SEPTEMBER 1, 1944; MARCHED INTO GERMANY (A DISTANCE OF 70 MILES). PLACED IN UNMARKED BOX CARS AND SEPARATED FROM OFFICERS; AGAIN PUT IN BOXCARS AND TAKEN TO STALAG 7-A AT MOOSEBURG, GERMANY. LIBERATED BY 3RD ARMY ON APRIL 9, 1945. PARTICIPATED IN BATTLES OF NAPLES-FOGGIA, ROME-ARNO, ANZIO, ITALY AND THEN INVASION OF SOUTHERN FRANCE. RECEIVED THE PURPLE HEART, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, POW MEDAL, COMBAT RIBBON WITH 3 BATTLE STARS.