The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3278 and the Ladies Auxiliary observed the end of The War in Europe, VE Day, May 11th at the VFW Post located at 2300 Stephen F. Austin and awarded a commemorative medal of service to one of its own.
On December 11th 1941, Germany and Italy declared war on the United States. The United States involvement officially lasted three years and five months. Over 183,000 Services members were killed in Europe, Africa and the Atlantic. Over 672,000 were wounded worldwide with 78,000 still listed as MIA worldwide. These numbers are not inclusive of the occupation duty that followed. While most of the Germans understood they had been defeated, a radical core of die-hards continued to resist often setting ambushes. It took many months for the occupation forces to quell the resistance and in addition to those duties, rebuild the infrastructure.
The Post recognized one of the soldiers America called on to fulfill those duties by awarding the “Victory in Europe Commemorative Medal” to one of their Post members, James W. Gilley for his service to our country. Mr. Gilley was assigned to The United States Army Occupation Forces in Germany.
Above is a picture of Gilley receiving the Victory in Europe Commemorative Medal.
