Yesterday was my Dad's birthday. He would have been one hundred years old. This is his photo when he served with the Fourth Army in the 4th Armored Division during World War II. He landed in France in July of 1944. He earned four Bronze Stars and his unit was awarded The Presidential Distinguished Unit Award as the only armored division to be awarded this for "extraordinary tactical accomplishment" in spearheading the Army advance across France and Germany. Only the second time in U.S. Army history that this has happened. His unit fought with General Patton in the Battle of the Bulge. General Patton wrote, "The accomplishments of this division has never been equaled. And by that statement I do not mean in this war. I mean in the entire history of warfare. There has never been such a superb fighting organization as the Fourth Armored Division."
His unit was awarded the French Croix de Guerre with Palms by the French government as "a magnificent unit possessing the highest military virtues contributing to the success of the campaign in Franc.
The Fourth Armored Division was recognized as the first liberating unit of a Nazi concentration camp by the U.S. Army's Center of Military History and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1985.
My dad never spoke about the war and his accomplishments. I do remember once at the dinner table my brother asked if he had fought in the Battle of the Bulge and he simply said, "yea I did."
With all that he went through his greatest accomplishment was that as a great husband, dad and grandpa!
Happy Birthday Dad!
Praise be to him and his comrades. Praise indeed.
Pop Pop wrote:
Yesterday was my Dad's birthday. He would have been one hundred years old. This is his photo when he served with the Fourth Army in the 4th Armored Division during World War II. He landed in France in July of 1944. He earned four Bronze Stars and his unit was awarded The Presidential Distinguished Unit Award as the only armored division to be awarded this for "extraordinary tactical accomplishment" in spearheading the Army advance across France and Germany. Only the second time in U.S. Army history that this has happened. His unit fought with General Patton in the Battle of the Bulge. General Patton wrote, "The accomplishments of this division has never been equaled. And by that statement I do not mean in this war. I mean in the entire history of warfare. There has never been such a superb fighting organization as the Fourth Armored Division."
His unit was awarded the French Croix de Guerre with Palms by the French government as "a magnificent unit possessing the highest military virtues contributing to the success of the campaign in Franc.
The Fourth Armored Division was recognized as the first liberating unit of a Nazi concentration camp by the U.S. Army's Center of Military History and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1985.
My dad never spoke about the war and his accomplishments. I do remember once at the dinner table my brother asked if he had fought in the Battle of the Bulge and he simply said, "yea I did."
With all that he went through his greatest accomplishment was that as a great husband, dad and grandpa!
Happy Birthday Dad!
Yesterday was my Dad's birthday. He would have bee... (
show quote)
That has got to make you very proud! Thank you and all who served during that time.
Thanks Bob and scooter, I am very proud of him. He is my hero!
I am very proud of your Dad.
He was part of what is referred to as "The Greatest Generation". He is not unlike many others who fought in WW II that I knew, including my Dad. He very rarely ever spoke about the war either as I can recall.
I feel the same way as you about my Dad as well. Wish he was still here.
Thanks for sharing his photo and personal background on him.
dancers
Loc: melbourne.victoria, australia
what a handsome man...............My own sweet Dad would now be 120 and I miss very much
Thank you, I found most of my information going through US Army records and history. They were the “Greatest Generation”
Pop Pop wrote:
Yesterday was my Dad's birthday. He would have been one hundred years old. This is his photo when he served with the Fourth Army in the 4th Armored Division during World War II. He landed in France in July of 1944. He earned four Bronze Stars and his unit was awarded The Presidential Distinguished Unit Award as the only armored division to be awarded this for "extraordinary tactical accomplishment" in spearheading the Army advance across France and Germany. Only the second time in U.S. Army history that this has happened. His unit fought with General Patton in the Battle of the Bulge. General Patton wrote, "The accomplishments of this division has never been equaled. And by that statement I do not mean in this war. I mean in the entire history of warfare. There has never been such a superb fighting organization as the Fourth Armored Division."
His unit was awarded the French Croix de Guerre with Palms by the French government as "a magnificent unit possessing the highest military virtues contributing to the success of the campaign in Franc.
The Fourth Armored Division was recognized as the first liberating unit of a Nazi concentration camp by the U.S. Army's Center of Military History and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1985.
My dad never spoke about the war and his accomplishments. I do remember once at the dinner table my brother asked if he had fought in the Battle of the Bulge and he simply said, "yea I did."
With all that he went through his greatest accomplishment was that as a great husband, dad and grandpa!
Happy Birthday Dad!
Yesterday was my Dad's birthday. He would have bee... (
show quote)
My Dad had a similar WW II story, but in the Pacific.
Thanks for posting.
Pop Pop wrote:
Happy Birthday Dad!
Quite a memorial to your dad. God bless him and grant him peace
Pop Pop wrote:
Yesterday was my Dad's birthday. He would have been one hundred years old. This is his photo when he served with the Fourth Army in the 4th Armored Division during World War II. He landed in France in July of 1944. He earned four Bronze Stars and his unit was awarded The Presidential Distinguished Unit Award as the only armored division to be awarded this for "extraordinary tactical accomplishment" in spearheading the Army advance across France and Germany. Only the second time in U.S. Army history that this has happened. His unit fought with General Patton in the Battle of the Bulge. General Patton wrote, "The accomplishments of this division has never been equaled. And by that statement I do not mean in this war. I mean in the entire history of warfare. There has never been such a superb fighting organization as the Fourth Armored Division."
His unit was awarded the French Croix de Guerre with Palms by the French government as "a magnificent unit possessing the highest military virtues contributing to the success of the campaign in Franc.
The Fourth Armored Division was recognized as the first liberating unit of a Nazi concentration camp by the U.S. Army's Center of Military History and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1985.
My dad never spoke about the war and his accomplishments. I do remember once at the dinner table my brother asked if he had fought in the Battle of the Bulge and he simply said, "yea I did."
With all that he went through his greatest accomplishment was that as a great husband, dad and grandpa!
Happy Birthday Dad!
Yesterday was my Dad's birthday. He would have bee... (
show quote)
Your pride in your dad is well justified. When they use the term, "the greatest generation" there is a good reason. It would have been an honor for me to meet him. Happy Birthday, Sir.
I know of what you speak as my Pop was of that generation. Very late in his life he told the greatest day of that long life was VE Day, “because it was finally over.” He was part of the security detail at its signing so he saw all the brass from both sides do the deed. I miss him as you do yours. Thanks for sharing.
Pop Pop wrote:
Yesterday was my Dad's birthday. He would have been one hundred years old. This is his photo when he served with the Fourth Army in the 4th Armored Division during World War II. He landed in France in July of 1944. He earned four Bronze Stars and his unit was awarded The Presidential Distinguished Unit Award as the only armored division to be awarded this for "extraordinary tactical accomplishment" in spearheading the Army advance across France and Germany. Only the second time in U.S. Army history that this has happened. His unit fought with General Patton in the Battle of the Bulge. General Patton wrote, "The accomplishments of this division has never been equaled. And by that statement I do not mean in this war. I mean in the entire history of warfare. There has never been such a superb fighting organization as the Fourth Armored Division."
His unit was awarded the French Croix de Guerre with Palms by the French government as "a magnificent unit possessing the highest military virtues contributing to the success of the campaign in Franc.
The Fourth Armored Division was recognized as the first liberating unit of a Nazi concentration camp by the U.S. Army's Center of Military History and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1985.
My dad never spoke about the war and his accomplishments. I do remember once at the dinner table my brother asked if he had fought in the Battle of the Bulge and he simply said, "yea I did."
With all that he went through his greatest accomplishment was that as a great husband, dad and grandpa!
Happy Birthday Dad!
Yesterday was my Dad's birthday. He would have bee... (
show quote)
Wonderful remembrance for your dad!
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