World War II Honoree

Jack Apostol

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Detroit, Michigan

Honored By

Christine Vourax Prappas

HONORARY DRILL SERGEANT. RECIPIENT OF U.S. MEDALS FOR MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENTS IN GROUND OPERATIONS, FIRST BEING ASSIGNED TO JOIN FORCES IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. WHEN THE NEWS MEDIA WAS DEPLOYED IN THE BASTOGNE AREA, THE ENTIRE 7TH ARMY HASTENED TO DRIVE THE ENEMY BACK. ASSIGNED AT THE SPEARHEAD OF THE INITIAL COUNTERATTACK AGAINST HITLER'S ELITE 6TH SS MOUNTAIN DIVISION, THEN CONTINUED ON AT THE FRONT ECHELON OF ALL THE OFFENSIVE DRIVES ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN COMBAT THROUGH THE ARDENNES, THE SIEGFRIED LINE, ALSACE-LORRAINE AND AT THE SAAR AND RHINE RIVER CROSSINGS. THE OVERALL CASUALTIES OF HIS DIVISION WERE 58%, TRAGICALLY THE 3RD HIGHEST FOR ANY AMERICAN DIVISION DURING THE WAR. THE 70TH DIVISION ASSOCIATION ALSO AWARDED HIM THE HIGHEST AWARD THAT THEY CAN PRESENT UPON THEIR OWN. HAS THE DISTINCTION OF BEING LISTED AS THE YOUNGEST COMBAT SOLDIER IN THE 70TH DIVISION AND ENDURING 86 CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF BATTLE, ITS EXPLOITS BEING COMMEMORATED IN THEIR DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION AND 3 BATTLE STREAMERS TO BE PERMANENTLY ATTACHED WITH THE AMERICAN FLAG AT ALL U.S. ARMY MILITARY FUNCTIONS.