Samuel Goodman

ASN:12147075

Enlisted September 25, 1942, New York City

Trained at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina.

He traveled with the 82nd Airborne to North Africa arriving in Casablanca May 10, 1943 and assigned to the Headquarters Battery of the 320th Glider Field Artillery Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division.

They participated and fought in 6 campaigns; Sicily, Naples-Foggia, Normandy, Holland, Ardennes and Central Europe.

Highest rank Tec 4

May 1945; The 82nd had crossed the Elbe River and approached the German city of Ludwigslust. The 21st German Army of almost 200,000 men surrendered to them. The 82nd liberated a camp near Ludwigslust known as Wobbelin. See following link.(https://319gliderman.com/stories/wobbelin-the-liberation).

General Gavin had all the men walk the camp to see what happened there, the locals removed the dead bodies and buried them in front of their town center. Following, the 320th pulled back to Camp Chicago, near Laon, France.

He was a “high point” soldier (meaning he earned 85 or more points) and was part of the first group to return to the USA. I know he was home by early October 1945, so probably shipped out from Marseille, France and arrived in Boston, September 14, 1945.

Decorations; Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge, European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon, Bronze Service Arrowhead, 6 Bronze Battle Stars, Belgian Fourragere, Bronze Arrowhead, Glider Badge, World War II Victory Medal.

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