World War II Honoree

Cletus E. Wilch

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Raytown, Missouri

Honored By

Veryl Wilch

Relationship

Brother

ENTERED SERVICE IN MAY 1942 AT FORT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS. TOOK OATH OF OFFICE AS 1ST LIEUTENANT CHAPLAIN IN THE U.S. ARMY ON JULY 21, 1942. ON AUGUST 7, 1942 REPORTED TO THE ARMY CHIEF OF CHAPLAIN'S SCHOOL AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY IN CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS. AFTER A 4-WEEK ORIENTATION, ASSIGNED TO 13TH ARMORED DIVISION AT CAMP BEALE, CALIFORNIA. DECEMBER 1943, THE 13TH ARMORED DIVISION MOVED TO CAMP BOWIE, TEXAS. JANUARY 1945, THE 13TH ARMORED DIVISION SHIPPED OVERSEAS TO SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND AND ON TO LE HAVRE, FRANCE. TRAVELLED ACROSS FRANCE AND INTO GERMANY ACROSS THE SAAR RIVER. CROSSED THE RHINE RIVER AT ST. GOAR. THE 13TH ARMORED DIVISION PROCEEDED EAST AND NORTH THROUGH THE RUHR POCKET. PROGRESS INTO GERMANY WAS HALTED IN THE KASSEL AREA. LAST FIRING OF GUNS WAS ON MAY 4, 1945. THE 13TH ARMORED DIVISION RETURNED TO FORT ORD, CALIFORNIA IN JUNE 1945. REASSIGNED TO THE 104TH INFANTRY REGIMENT OF THE 26TH INFANTRY DIVISION FOR ARMY OF OCCUPATION DUTY IN CZECHOSLOVAKIA. TOURS OF DUTY IN WELS AND SALZBURG, AUSTRIA. DISCHARGED ON JUNE 30, 1947.