RESIDENCE (DURING WWII):
Corpus Christi, Texas
FULL NAME:
Virdes L. Gordon
ARMY SERIAL NUMBER (ASN):
38025305
- DATE OF BIRTH: Sept 2, 1912
- DATE OF DEATH: Oct 31, 1982
DATE / PLACE OF ENLISTMENT:
-
DATE OF ENLISTMENT:Dec 10, 1940
-
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT:San Antonio, Texas
ORGANIZATION:
-
MAIN UNIT:23rd Infantry Regiment
-
SUBUNIT:Company I, 3rd Battalion
RANK / POSITION IN UNIT (LAST KNOWN):
-
RANK:Staff Sergeant (S/Sgt.)
-
POSITION IN UNIT:Squad Leader
BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS:
✭ Normandy Campaign (6 June – 24 July 1944), ✭ Northern France Campaign (25 July – 14 September 1944), ✭ Ardennes-Alsace Campaign (16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945), ✭ Rhineland Campaign (15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945), ✭ Central Europe Campaign (22 March – 11 May 1945)
DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS (AWARDS):
🎖Purple Heart, 🎖Good Conduct Medal, 🎖American Campaign Medal, 🎖European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, 🎖American Defense Service Medal, 🎖WWII Victory Medal, 🎖Distinguished Unit Citation, 🎖Honorable Service Lapel Button, 🎖Combat Infantry Badge, 🎖Bronze Star Medal With "V" Device
SUMMARY OF HIS SERVICE:
Virdes completed a Special Ranger Training Course during his basic training at Camp McCoy. Before D-Day, he was selected to become a member of the so-called Special Engineer Task Force which were intended for the first wave of landings at Omaha Beach. Approximately 150 members of the 2nd Infantry Division with special training were the first to land on Omaha Beach on June 6 as a part of the Assault Teams, Special Engineer Task Force.
Virdes earned his Bronze Star with „V“ for Valor during the Battle of the Bulge near Krinkelt-Rocherath when he managed to bring ammunition under heavy fire. He had bullet holes in his overcoat while running with the ammo.
