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Gotschall, Raymond L.

Date of birth:
November 13th, 1922 (Franklin/Illinois, United States)
Nationality:
American

Biography

Service number 36 438 158.

Raymond Gotschall was enlisted on 2nd December 1942 at Peoria, Illinois. He was honorably discharged on 20th August 1945.

Raymond Gotschall was entitled to wear the Distinguished Unit Badge by General Order No. 26, dated 11th June 1944.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
February 13th, 1943
With hanger "RIFLE".
Marksman Badge
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
September 10th, 1943
Received with hanger "RIFLE".
Expert Badge
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
October 2nd, 1943
US Army Parachute Badge
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Private 1st Class
Unit:
505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division "All American", U.S. Army
Awarded on:
August 5th, 1944
Received for a wound inflicted in Normandy on 17th June 1944.

General Order No. 10.
Purple Heart
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Private 1st Class
Unit:
505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division "All American", U.S. Army
Awarded on:
August 15th, 1944

General Order No 12.
Combat Infantryman Badge
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Private 1st Class
Unit:
505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division "All American", U.S. Army
Awarded on:
October 6th, 1944
Received for a wound inflicted in the Netherlands on 30th September 1944.

Second Purple heart received as a bronze oak leaf cluster for on the ribbon of the first PH.
General Order No. 19.
Purple Heart
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Private 1st Class
Unit:
505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division "All American", U.S. Army
Awarded on:
December 28th, 1944
Bronze Star  Medal (BSM)
Citation:
"For heroic conduct in connection with military operations against the enemy on 30 September 1944 near ***, Holland. Private First Class Gotschall demonstrated outstanding aggressiveness on a patrol with the mission of establishing a roadblock vital to the defence of the sector. Acting as security he moved 75 yards in advance of the patrol to prevent its ambush. Advancing across open terrain, he was fired on by enemy machine guns form three directions. But, in spite of the danger, Private Gotschall continued forward to within 100 yards of the enemy positions to discover their location. He was seriously wounded, but refused to quit and asked the patrol to abandon him. Private First Class Gotschall's courage and unselfish devotion to duty saved his patrol from ambush. His soldierly behavior was credit to himself and the Airborne Forces of the United States Army."

General Order No. 69, HQ 82nd Airborne Division.
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Private 1st Class
Unit:
505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division "All American", U.S. Army
Awarded on:
August 20th, 1945
Honorable Service Lapel Button / Honorable Discharge Emblem
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Private 1st Class
Unit:
505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division "All American", U.S. Army

Received with two bronze campaign stars for the "NORMANDY" and "GERMANY" campaigns.
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal

Sources

  • Photo 1: Harold Gotschall
  • - Letter from War Department, dated 1 December 1945, citing award of Bronze Star
    - Reference to Bronze Star in discharge, dated 23 August 1945
    - Photograph of Bronze Star and other medals with above citation
    - Honorable Discharge documents

Photo