This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSG Justin Davis
to remember
Simmons, Harold B., Pfc.
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Contact Info
Home Town Parsons
Date of Passing Oct 31, 1986
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
PFC HAROLD B SIMMONS ENLISTED IN THE A.A.F. SOON AFTER GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL ON 19 JULY 1941. HE WAS ASSIGNED AS A COOK WITH HEADQUARTERS SQUADRON OF THE 12TH A.A.F. PFC SIMMONS ARRIVED OVERSEAS ON 11 SEPTEMBER 1942 AND WAS THERE THROUGH SEVERAL CAMPAIGNS OF NORTH AFRICA AND ITALY AND AT SOME POINT REACHED THE RANK OF S/SGT . A CUMBERLAND TIMES NEWSPAPER ARTICLE FROM 1944 STATED THAT S/SGT HAROLD B. SIMMONS RECEIVED THE SOLDIERS MEDAL AFTER HE ENTERED A BURNING BUILDING TO RESCUE AN ITALIAN LABORER. PFC SIMMONS RETURNED HOME AND WAS DISCHARGED ON 27 JUNE 1945 AND RETURNED HOME TO WEST VIRGINIA. THE SOCIAL SECURITY DEATH INDEX LISTS HIS DEATH AS OCTOBER 1986.
WWII - European Theater of Operations/Naples-Foggia Campaign (1943-44)
From Month/Year
August / 1943
To Month/Year
January / 1944
Description (Naples-Foggia Campaign 18 Aug 1943-21 Jan 1944 (Air); 9 Sep 1943-21 Jan 1944 (Ground) After Allied bombardment of communications and airfields in Italy, Montgomery crossed the Strait of Messina on 3 September 1943 and started northward. Five days later Eisenhower announced that the Italian Government had surrendered. Fifth Army, under Clark, landed at Salerno on g September and managed to stay despite furious counterattacks. By 18 September the Germans were withdrawing northward. On 27 September Eighth Army occupied the important airfields of Foggia, and on I October Fifth Army took Naples. As the Allies pushed up the peninsula, the enemy slowed the advance and brought it to a halt at the Gustav Line.