Willard "Pete" Hurelle - in Columbus, Wisconsin and in
WWII European Theater as an Army Operations Sergeant, Company 'K' 359th Infantry

 

At eight years old in 1926, Willard wrote to his brother Walter while attending the State Normal School in Milwaukee.

Willard, top row and center stands tall in his April 9, 1933 Olivet Congressional Church Confirmation in Columbus Wisconsin. Click the photo for names of his fellow church members.

In Rememberance of the Day of Confirmation, Willard R. Hurelle.

Willard graduates in 1937 from Columbus High School

Willard, second row in the upper left, graduates with his fellow class members in 1937 from Columbus High School, Wisconsin

Willard's senior class photo in 1937 from Columbus High School.

Willard signs up for WW II the same day his brother does, October 16, 1940

Willard married Frieda Elizabeth Houseman on November 8, 1943 in Tulsa Oklahoma while still in training as a sergeant.

Willard, T/Sgt in 1947.

In the last days of WWII, Willard takes a break while in France.

Willard's served as and Operations sergeant during WWII and a Army technical sergeant after.

Willard Hurelle's Army Good Conduct Medal. (After three  consecutive years of service, the medal was awarded on a selective basis to each Soldier who distinguished themselves  from their fellow Soldiers by their exemplary conduct, efficiency, and fidelity).

Willard served in the Army April 17, 1941 to October 17, 1945 in the European Theatre of Operations as a Operations Sgt in Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe with the following badges: Combat infantryman Badge EX Carbine - The badge is awarded to infantrymen in the rank of colonel and below, who fought in active ground combat while assigned as members of Infantry unit of brigade size or smaller at any time after 6 December 1941. European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with five bronze Campaign stars representing five campaigns. (Five bronze Campaign stars are then represented by one Silver Battle Star) The yellow is a WWII US Army American Defense Service bar recognizing those military service members who had served on active duty between September 8, 1939, and December 7, 1941 The red bar is the three year good conduct bar

Willard, on the left stands with a brother in arms in France, 1945. Willard served in the Army April 17, 1941 to October 17, 1945 in the European Theatre of Operations as a Operations Sgt in Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe. He later served as a US Army - T/Sgt - Investigator 301 from November 20, 1945 to March 24, 1947 in Oklahoma.

French Prisoners the Americans liberated near Czechoslovakia - April 1945

'M' Company Machine Gunners attached to Company 'K' during combat. April 1945 Vic Oberhaf, Germany. Later, Pete wrote the photo was taken with a 120 Ziess Ikon

 

32 inch German gun on railroad tracks in Altneuhaus, Germany near Metzenhauf

 

WWII destruction in Mainz, Germany with U.S. Army troops and civilians.

 

Willard Hurelle lists the towns Company 'K' 359 Infantry passed through from January 25, 1945 to May 7, 1945. Notice, there was heavy combat in Eiglescheid, Germany.

 

Page 2. Numerous casualties were taken by the 359 in Schirnding. They camped in the woods and stayed at a captured German strong point hotel in Manebach, Germany and they passed through the destruction in Mainz, Germany - see photos above.

 

Page 3 - Notice the German 11th Panzer Division surrendered to the 359.

 

After the war, Willard received more education and eventually worked as an accountant at various locations and retired after 29 years at Boeing in Seattle.

 
 

Pete's well used GE L-362 vacuum tube radio which also picked up shortwave frequencies. It was manufactured in 1942 with a cardboard back and brass push attachments to easily access the inside electronics to replace the tubes.

 
 

In April of 1966, Pete and Frieda get dressed up for Easter service at church while at their Seattle home.

 
 

On December 25, 1965, snow covers the ground of their 1217 S. 128th address in Seattle. Parked out front,  their 1955,  four door hard top Buick Special with three "ventiports" on each side of the hood.

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