Lawrence G Swails
11th Armored Div
US Army 1943-1946
In June of 1943, Larry enlisted in the United States Army immediately after graduation from Iowa City High School at age 19. He was sent to Fort Bliss, Texas for Basic Training (boot camp.) He was then assigned to the 11th Armored Division, 875th Battalion as a communications Sergeant as their radio operator. His Division was rerouted on December 16, 1944 to England. They were committed to action at the Battle of the Bulge and assigned to General Patton's 3rd Army. They crossed the English Channel to France and the 11th Armored Division's reconnaissance forces encountered severe action on the front lines with incredible and repeated savage artillery fire. The battle lasted from December 16, 1944 to January 25th, 1945. The 11th Armored Division reconnaissance encountered and liberated the concentration camp at Mauthausen, Austria. Larry was also assigned to the 575th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion in the European Theater of Operations where he is credited with participating in major campaigns in the Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe. His unit earned three battle stars for their service in the European Theatre of Operations. Larry returned to the United States on March 21, 1946 after discharging Honorably.
Medals earned: Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Service Medal, and European African Middle Eastern Theater Service Medal
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