World War II Honoree

Ernest O. Proulx

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Manchester, New Hampshire

Honored By

Paul A. Frederickson

Relationship

Admirer

ENLISTED IN THE NEW HAMPSHIRE NATIONAL GUARD IN AUGUST 1940 AND JOINED THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE 172ND FIELD ARTILLERY REGIMENT, BASED AT MANCHESTER. TRANSFERRED TO SERVICE BATTERY OF THE 2ND BATTALION, SHORTLY BEFORE THE REGIMENT ENTERED ACTIVE FEDERAL SERVICE ON FEBRUARY 24, 1941 AND MOVED TO CAMP BLANDING, FLORIDA IN MARCH 1941 FOR MOBILIZATION TRAINING. IN MARCH 1942, MOVED TO CAMP SHELBY, MISSISSIPPI, WHERE HIS BATTALION WAS RENAMED THE 941ST FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION IN MARCH 1943. IN SEPTEMBER 1943, MOVED TO CAMP IRON MOUNTAIN IN THE CALIFORNIA DESERT, WHERE HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO C BATTERY, 941ST FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION, IN WHICH HE SERVED AS MOTOR SERGEANT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE WAR. IN MARCH 1944, DEPARTED FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM AND LANDED IN FRANCE ON JUNE 14, 1944. SUBSEQUENTLY PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLES OF NORMANDY, THE FALAISE GAP, THE SIEGFRIED LINE, THE HUERTGEN FOREST, THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE, AND THE RHINE RIVER CROSSING. AWARDED THE EUROPEAN THEATER SERVICE RIBBON WITH 5 CAMPAIGN STARS (NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE, AND CENTRAL EUROPE).