RESIDENCE (DURING WWII):
New Holland, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
FULL NAME:
Richard C. Meck
ARMY SERIAL NUMBER (ASN):
33872545
- DATE OF BIRTH: Aug 20, 1925
- DATE OF DEATH: Nov 13, 2012
DATE / PLACE OF ENLISTMENT:
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DATE OF ENLISTMENT:December 1943
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PLACE OF ENLISTMENT:Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
ORGANIZATION:
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MAIN UNIT:9th Infantry Regiment
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SUBUNIT:Company F, 2nd Battalion
RANK / POSITION IN UNIT (LAST KNOWN):
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RANK:Technician Fourth Grade (T/4)
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POSITION IN UNIT:1st Scout
BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS:
✭ Normandy Campaign (6 June – 24 July 1944), ✭ Northern France Campaign (25 July – 14 September 1944), ✭ Rhineland Campaign (15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945)
DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS (AWARDS):
🎖Bronze Star Medal, 🎖Purple Heart, 🎖Good Conduct Medal, 🎖American Campaign Medal, 🎖European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, 🎖WWII Victory Medal, 🎖Distinguished Unit Citation, 🎖Combat Infantry Badge
SUMMARY OF HIS SERVICE:
Took his training in Camp Kilmer South Carolina, stationed in England in May of 1944. Joined the 9th Regiment as a replacement in early June after the initial Normandy invasion. Was in action with Company F through the assault on St. Lo and crossing the Vire River. Then during the siege of Brest, France. Transported with the 9th Regiment to Belgium the beginning of October, 1944. Then occupied defensive position near Schlaussenbach, Germany until wounded during a night scout on October 7th. Transported to field hospital the next day. Recover in a hospital in Birmingham, England and was sent back to Europe as a truck driver to complete his service. Returned home in 1946.
Dad was an avid hunter and fisherman. He never spoke about his service in the war when he was young but in later year's I talked him into applying for his medals and then took him back to Europe and we traveled to all the places he had been in the war including where he was wounded in Schlaussenbach. After that he would discuss what he remembered from his service and became proud of his time in WW2.
