Lester Bird
ASN:36070477
October 16, 1940: Lester Bird registered for the draft.
March 20, 1942: He enlisted in the United States Army.
Training: He trained at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
May 1943: He traveled with the Headquarters Battery of the 319th Glider Field Artillery Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division, to North Africa.
October 20, 1943: While stationed in Naples, Italy, he was promoted to corporal.
November 1943: He was listed as one of many soldiers sailing on the USS Dickman from Naples, Italy, to Northern Ireland.
January 9, 1944: He went from duty to detached service with the 505th Parachute Infantry, Cookstown, Northern Ireland.
February 6, 1944: He went from duty to a baggage Road party to Leicester, England, from Camp Ballyscullion, Northern Ireland. The battalion was in the process of moving to the area of Market Harborough, England, by motor and sea.
Campaigns: Lester Bird participated in the following campaigns: Sicilian, Naples – Foggia, Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, and Central Europe.
July 15, 1944: Lester Bird was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious action during the Normandy campaign. He was also awarded the European African Middle Eastern theater ribbon, 6 bronze battle stars, a bronze service arrowhead, the Good Conduct medal, Distinguished Unit Badge general order 54, and the Purple Heart.
February 1945, reported as wounded in the action.
April 6, 1945: He was reported as a battle casualty and dropped from the personnel roles.
January 23, 1946: He was discharged from the service.
Photo Gallery
(slideshow, side controls to next image)
Photos courtesy of the Lester Bird and Delbert Jackson families, the 82nd Airborne Division War Memorial Museum
Lester Bird, 73, died May 22, 1991. God bless this hero.