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Layman, Fred H.

Date of birth:
October 29th, 1916
Date of death:
November 17th, 1994
Nationality:
American (1776 - present, Republic)

Biography

After graduation he was assigned to the 424th Infantry Regt. 106 Division at Ft. Jackson SC. The Division moved to Camp Atterbury in May 1943.

Layman was reassigned to the European Theater in July 1944, 82nd Airborne Division and took jump training in England . Upon completion he was assigned to the 508th PIR. He jumped in Operation-Market Garden on September 17, 1944 and was wounded on the way to a bridge across the Rhine River that same day.. The Dutch Underground evacuated him through German lines five days later. He was then evacuated to England and after recuperation he rejoined the regiment in November 1944.

In Jan 1945 while at the Battle of The Bulge his Jeep struck a mine and his face was shattered. He was in the hospital in France until July of 1945, when he again rejoined the 508th on occupation duty. In October of 1945 Layman was assigned to HQ. 82 Airborne Division in Berlin.

When he rotated back to the U.S. in 1946 he was assigned to Camp Roberts CA but in 1947 he was reassigned to the Counter Intelligence Corps School in Baltimore, MD. After completion of the training he was reassigned as a Senior Army Instructor..

Layman next served in Korea in 1952 and returned in May of 1953 when he was assigned as Troop Commander at the "Deseret Chemical Depot" located 22 miles south of Tooetle Utah.

In 1954 he was re-assigned to the Army Language School in Monterey, California where he studied German. In July 1955 Layman was re-assigned to the Military Intelligence Group in Frankfort, Germany.

Finally, in February of 1957 he returned to the U.S. and in May of that year he retired on temporary disabled list, In May 1959 he retired on the regular list.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
1st Lieutenant
Unit:
1st Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division "All American", U.S. Army
Awarded for:
Operation Market Garden
Fred H. Layman was wounded on September 17th, 1944, on or near the intersection of the Groesbeekseweg/Fransestraat in Nijmegen during the first attack on the Waalriver Bridge

G.O. 30th Hq. 186 Gen Hosp.
Purple Heart
"For actions during the period between Sept. 17 – Nov. 13, 1944 while attached with 508th."
Period:
Korean War (1950-1953)
Unit:
40th Infantry Division "Sunshine Division", U.S. Army
Awarded on:
1953
"For actions between Oct. 22 – Nov. 20, 1952 in Korea."

Second BSM received as Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Bronze Star  Medal (BSM)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)

"Foreign Service" clasp
American Defence Service Medal
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)

w/ 5 campaign stars & "Arrowhead" device
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
Period:
Korean War (1950-1953)

Additional award
Combat Infantryman Badge
Period:
Korean War (1950-1953)

w/ 3 campaign stars
Korean Service Medal (KSM)

Sources

Photo