- Joined
- Oct 11, 2010
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Rex G. Combs (born May 13, 1912) enlisted in the U.S. Army on July 26, 1942 in Los Angeles, CA. He was trained as a Tank Destroyer at Fort Knox, KY but was then selected to attend OCS (Officer Candidate School) at Camp Hood, Texas. Upon earning his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant, he volunteered for parachutist duty.-
Rex was assigned to the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR). The 508th PIR was then at Camp Mackall undergoing advanced training for its coming role in Europe.
Rex was with the 508th when the regiment jumped into Normandy on D-Day as well as during subsequent combat in Holland and Belgium (the Battle of the Bulge). When approaching the drop zone in Holland (Operation Market-Garden), his aircraft was hit and going down in flames when he exited. He was dropped some 2000 yards yards east of he DZ and actually landed in Wyler, Germany rather than the intended area of Grosbeek, Holland.
He excelled as an officer with many notable acts of bravery in combat. His awards include the Silver Star with one Oak Leaf Cluster (OLC), the Purple Heart with three OLC, Distinguished Unit Citation, the French and The Belgian Fourragere, the Netherlands Military Order of William, Combat Infantryman Badge and the Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Arrowhead for participation in Operation Neptune, Normandy, D-Day, 6 June, 1944 and four Campaign Stars denoting participation in Normandy, Holland, Belgium and Central Europe.
In addition, he was knighted by Queen Wilhelmina of The Netherlands with the award of the The Dutch Bronze Lion, by: "distinguishing himself during the operations of the 82nd Airborne Division in the area of NIJMEGEN in the period from September 17 to October 4, 1944, by doing particularly gallant and tactful deeds and setting, in every respect, a praise worthy example in very difficult circumstances."
Rex died on july 3, 1976 at the second annual reunion of the 508th PIR at the Marriott Hotel, Chicago Illinois.-
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Rex was assigned to the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR). The 508th PIR was then at Camp Mackall undergoing advanced training for its coming role in Europe.
Rex was with the 508th when the regiment jumped into Normandy on D-Day as well as during subsequent combat in Holland and Belgium (the Battle of the Bulge). When approaching the drop zone in Holland (Operation Market-Garden), his aircraft was hit and going down in flames when he exited. He was dropped some 2000 yards yards east of he DZ and actually landed in Wyler, Germany rather than the intended area of Grosbeek, Holland.
He excelled as an officer with many notable acts of bravery in combat. His awards include the Silver Star with one Oak Leaf Cluster (OLC), the Purple Heart with three OLC, Distinguished Unit Citation, the French and The Belgian Fourragere, the Netherlands Military Order of William, Combat Infantryman Badge and the Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Arrowhead for participation in Operation Neptune, Normandy, D-Day, 6 June, 1944 and four Campaign Stars denoting participation in Normandy, Holland, Belgium and Central Europe.
In addition, he was knighted by Queen Wilhelmina of The Netherlands with the award of the The Dutch Bronze Lion, by: "distinguishing himself during the operations of the 82nd Airborne Division in the area of NIJMEGEN in the period from September 17 to October 4, 1944, by doing particularly gallant and tactful deeds and setting, in every respect, a praise worthy example in very difficult circumstances."
Rex died on july 3, 1976 at the second annual reunion of the 508th PIR at the Marriott Hotel, Chicago Illinois.-
findagrave