Arthur J. Letourneau
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
Arthur J. Letourneau entered the Army June 9, 1944, at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. Home at entry: Duluth, Minnesota.
He served as a Private First Class and infantryman with Company K, 386th Infantry Regiment, 97th Infantry Division in Rhineland. Attended basic training at Camp Walters, Texas. Jumped Company K at Camp Cook, California. Shipped overseas to Ruhr Valley, Czechoslovakia, then to Germany, and to Japan for the occupation. Wounded in action in the face and leg on April 9, 1945, in Germany.
Arthur shared the following story: One night in April 1945, while stationed in Germany as an ammo bearer...
“As we approached Felder Hoffer Brooker, our scouts found two German members of 20mm Anti-Aircraft Gunmen asleep and captured them. As we advanced, a 20mm machine gun opened upon us, but our return fire pinned them down. Along with several others, we flanked their position and captured them.
"We returned to the road and another 20mm machine gun began to fire at us. I hit the ground behind a large tree. By this time mortar rounds began to drop near us. Finally with all this commotion, I was able to pinpoint the location of the 20mm gun. I had to fire from the left side of the tree. I fired three shots and then the `Fourth of July` seemed to come at my head (these of course were caused by the larger tracer increments of the 20mm rounds).
"I touched off two more left-handed shots and the `Fourth of July` returned. I had been wounded by the splinter in the face and by shrapnel or a bullet in the thigh. I then ran from this tree to another in the rear as their 20mm fire kicked up the dirt around me. As I hit the ground, my helmet fell off. Without thinking, I jumped up, ran out, and retrieved my helmet without incident. After a trip to the aid station, I returned to the unit as a rifleman.”
He was awarded the following: Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Army of Occupation Medal-Japan, Combat Infantryman Badge, Sharp Shooter Badge, and two overseas bars.
Mr. Letourneau was honorably discharged on June 1, 1946.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The Saint Louis County World War II Project, page 359.
