World War II Honoree

Earl R. Helder

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Cincinnati, Ohio

Honored By

Paul A. Frederickson

Relationship

Admirer

ENTERED SERVICE WITH THE U.S. ARMY ON MARCH 26, 1941. AFTER BASIC TRAINING AT FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA, JOINED THE 2ND BATTALION, 172ND FIELD ARTILLERY REGIMENT (RENAMED THE 941ST FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION IN MARCH 1943) AT CAMP BLANDING, FLORIDA. MOVED WITH THE BATTALION TO CAMP SHELBY, MISSISSIPPI IN 1942 AND TO CAMP IRON MOUNTAIN, DESERT TRAINING CENTER, CALIFORNIA IN 1943. DEPARTED FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM IN MARCH 1944 AND WAS STATIONED AT EXETER, ENGLAND. LANDED IN NORMANDY, FRANCE IN JUNE 1944 AND SERVED AS AMMUNITION SERGEANT OF 'A' BATTERY, 941ST FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION ATTACHED TO V CORPS OF THE FIRST ARMY UNTIL THE END OF THE WAR IN EUROPE IN MAY 1945. PARTICIPATED IN FIVE CAMPAIGNS ACROSS FRANCE, BELGIUM, AND GERMANY: NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE AND CENTRAL EUROPE.