Norman Lucas

Personal Information

Birthplace: Branchland, WV

Service Information

Branch of Service: Army

Unit: B Co.291st Inf. Bn. 75th Division

Theater of Operation: European

Enlisted / Commissioned: Mar 24, 1944

Discharged: Nov 11, 1945

Honored By: Wife Dorothy; Sons Melvin Ray, Oscar Jay, Wallace Gay, Arthur Eugene, Jackie Glenn and Jeremy Wayne

Biography

His training took place at Camp Walters in Texas and at Camp Breckinridge in Kentucky in April 1944. He moved to Camp Shanks, New York and departed by transport ship the Edmund B. Alexander. He arrived in Swansea, Wales in November 1944. They established headquarters in Lamphey, Wales in December 1944. After many long convoy rides and much walking day and night in extreme cold weather, they fought their way through France, Holland and into Germany and Belgium. It was extremely hard fighting the enemy due to the fierce weather conditions, shortages of sleep, shelter, food and clothing. Frost bite and flu took a toll on many of the soldiers during the long marches in waist deep snow without proper clothing and equipment. Many good men died to protect the freedom of America. Medals: Combat Infantry Badge, European/African Middle East Theater Medal with 3 stars, WWII Victory Medal, American Theater Medal, Arms of the City of Colmar and the Good Conduct Medal.