World War II Honoree

Leslie R. Hereford, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Tow, Texas

Honored By

John C Burkhardt, AAG MOPH, Chapter 1919, Austin, Texas

Relationship

Patriot

HE WAS ATTENDING COLLEGE WHEN WWII BEGAN. ON MAY 27, 1943 HE WAS COMMISSIONED AFTER GRADUATING COLLEGE AND OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL AT FORT BENNING, GEORGIA. HE TRAINED AT CAMP WOLTERS, TEXAS; CAMP BARKELEY, TEXAS AND HAAN, CALIFORNIA. HE WAS THEN ASSIGNED TO THE 90TH DIVISION, STATIONED IN NEW YORK, ON MARCH 22, 1944 THEY SHIPPED OUT TO BE STATIONED IN HEREFORD, ENGLAND FOR PRE-INVASION TRAINING. HE WAS ASSIGNED AS PLATOON LEADER, 3RD PLATOON, COMPANY K, 358TH INFANTRY REGIMENT. SOON THEY SHIPPED OUT FOR THE D-DAY INVASION OF NORMANDY, FRANCE. REMAINED ON THE SHIP FOR 4 DAYS AND WERE SENT ASHORE ON UTAH BEACH JUNE 8, 1944 D-DAY PLUS 2. ON THE AFTERNOON OF JUNE 10, 1944 WAS IN COMBAT CAPTURING A GERMAN COMMAND POST AND TAKING PRISONERS IN ETIENVILLE, FRANCE. AT 5:15 PM A GERMAN ARTILLERY SHELL EXPLODED, SEVERING HIS RIGHT ARM. AT 5:30 HE WAS SHOT IN THE LEFT HAND, LOSING A FINGER. SOON THE MEDIC ARRIVED AND HE LOST CONSCIOUSNESS WHILE ON STRETCHER. HE CAME TO THE NEXT DAY WHILE IN A HOSPITAL BACK IN ENGLAND. ON JULY 7, 1944 HE WAS MEDICALLY EVACUATED BACK TO THE U.S. HE SPENT THE NEXT 22 MONTHS UNDERGOING TREATMENTS. ON MARCH 28, 1946 HE WAS MEDICALLY DISCHARGED AS A 1ST LIEUTENANT.