Author: mike@edisonheroes.com

Silver Star Medal

The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces’ third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States.

The Silver Star Medal is awarded for gallantry. The gallantry displayed must have taken place while in action against an enemy of the United States, while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force, or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

The Silver Star Medal is awarded for singular acts of valor or heroism over a brief period, such as one or two days of a battle.

Edison Hero Lucien Houle was awarded the Silver Star for actions in Tunisia in 1943. While other Edison Heroes are reported to have won the Silver Star, Lucien’s award is the first that has been confirmed.

Lucien’s Silver Star citation has been added to his page.

Read the citation here.

Lucien Houle

Find a Grave

Find a Grave (www.findagrave.com) is a website that contains gravesite photos and other information on millions of people from around the world. It has been a valuable tool for finding information about the Edison Heros featured on this site. You would likely find pages for your relatives or friends on the site.

Jon Strupp of Minneapolis, MN, a World War 2 researcher, author, and subscriber, has created a virtual cemetery dedicated to the 116 World War 2 Edison Heroes on Find a Grave.

https://www.findagrave.com/virtual-cemetery/1973693?page=1#sr-11478645

It is a nice companion site to this site. I recommend checking it out.

Thank you, Jon!

D-Day

Today is the 81st anniversary of D-Day, the Allied invasion of France.

The invasion force included over 7,000 ships and 13,000 aircraft. Approximately 129,400 soldiers landed at 5 beaches along a 50 mile stretch of the Normandy coast. Nearly 24,000 airborne paratroopers landed inland from the beaches. By the end of the day, 2,501 Americans were dead and thousands more were wounded.

At least 5 Edison Heroes were involved in the invasion.

Walter T. Anderson was a tank commander who landed on Utah Beach and was killed in action on 8Jun1944.

Paul Raupach was a paratrooper who parachuted into Normandy and was killed in action on 8Jun1944.

Casimir Karbowniczak was a paratrooper who parachuted into Normandy and was killed in action on 19Jun1944.

Roger Nielsen was a fighter pilot who supported the landings on D-day and was killed in action on 18Jun1944.

William Mueller was a fighter pilot who supported the landings on D-day and was killed in action on 18Jul1944.

Donald Grisen (Update)

Donald was killed in action near Grosbliedsserstroff, France on 6Feb1945. There is a monument in Grosbliedsserstroff dedicated to the 70th Infantry Infantry Division and the US Soldiers killed during the liberation. Donald’s name is engraved on the monument.

Donald’s page has been updated to include pictures of the monument and pictures, and a YouTube link for a video taken when the town celebrated the 80th anniversary of their liberation in February.

Learn more about Donald here.

Donald Grisen