Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Corporal

Unit:

Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division "All American", U.S. Army

Kenneth J. Merritt, 18161538, Corporal, 508th Parachute Infantry. For gallantry in action on 4 July 1944 northeast of La Cuiroterie, France. While attacking through the village of La Cuiroterie, one of the two heavy machine guns commanded by Corporal Merritt, Headquarters First Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry, was knocked out by enemy fire and its crew wounded. In order to equalize the fire power in his sector, Corporal Merritt secured a number of hand grenades and crawled toward the enemy machine gun position. When within range, he assaulted the position and put it out of action with his grenades. This voluntary action enabled the battalion to maintain its line at that point and repulse two counter-attacks with the assistance of the remaining machine guns. Entered military service from Muskogee, Oklahoma.

Headquarters 82nd Airborne Division, General Orders No. 44 (1944).

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Corporal

Unit:

Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division "All American", U.S. Army

Awarded on:

November 16th, 1943

Headquarters 82nd Airborne Division, General Orders No. 58 (1943).

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Sergeant

Unit:

Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division "All American", U.S. Army

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Unit:

Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division "All American", U.S. Army

With two stars (Normandy and Holland jumps).