Richard Jespen

Service Information

Branch of Service: Army

Unit: 30th Infantry part of Old Hickory, Co. D 120th Infantry Regiment

Theater of Operation: European

Enlisted / Commissioned: Mar 10, 1944

Discharged: Nov 10, 1946

Highest Rank: Col.

Military Honors: 3 bronze Stars, Presidential Unit Citation, Meritorious Medal, 2 Belgian Fourrageres,, French Croix de Guerre and European Theater Ribbon- 5 stars

Honored By: The Eisenhower Foundation

Biography

Jespen served in the US Army during WW II as a combat infantryman with the 30th Infantry Division in Europe. General Eisenhower’s historians rated this division as the #1 division with the most consistent and efficient battle service in Europe during WW II. He landed on Omaha Beach July 4, 1944 and served as Instrument Corporal and Machine gunner in CO D> 120th Infantry Regiment in the five major battle campaigns from Normandy to the Elbe River.