134th Infantry Regiment Website
"All Hell Can't Stop Us"
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134th Infantry Regiment Website"All Hell Can't Stop Us" |
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Wayne Richard Palmer, son of Harry Chapin and Ollo M (Metzner) Palmer, was born August 28, 1920 near Viola, Illinois. He registered for the draft February 16, 1942. At the time he was living in Aledo, Illinois and working at the Rock Island Arsenal. Inducted into the Army September 9, 1942, he was a Squad Leader in the First Platoon, Company F, 134th Infantry Regiment. He landed on Omaha Beach July 5, 1944 and fought in the battle for St Lo, France. S/Sgt Wayne R Palmer was originally reported missing and was later confirmed killed in action August 10, 1944 in the vicinity of Mortain, France. He is buried at Alexis Cemetery, Alexis, Illinois.
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Silver Star Medal Citation |
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Staff Sergeant Wayne R Palmer 36067773 (then Sergeant), Infantry, United States Army, for gallantry in action on 15 July 1944 near St Lo, France. In an attack on Hill Number 122 in the operation against * * * Sergeant Palmer led a squad which was pinned down by enemy machine gun fire from an emplacement in a hedgerow to his front. Sergeant Palmer, voluntarily and armed only with his rifle and bayonet, crept across an open field to the enemy side of the hedgerow, where he captured the machine gun crew, consisting of four enemy soldiers, and three machine guns. The squad was then able to advance and accomplish its mission. The exemplary bravery and resourcefulness of action under heavy enemy fire of Sergeant Palmer, his utter disregard for his own personal welfare, placing the lives of his men and the accomplishment of the objective as the matters of principal importance, resulted not only in saving the lives of his men, but facilitated the squad's active participation in the assault against the enemy. Entered military service from Illinois. General Orders No. 16, Headquarters 35th Infantry Division, 8 August 1944 |
