Roderick E. O'Donnell
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
Photo 1: At Camp Ripley, 1939, Front row (left to right): Phil, Larry, Bud Welsh; Back row (left to right) Erling Holde, Roderick O'Donnell, Harry Fairchild, Mark Lanigan
Roderick Edward O'Donnell of Duluth enlisted in the Army on Feb. 10, 1941.
He was a Staff Sergeant and chief of a gun crew section with the Cannon Company, 135th Infantry. He served in Tunisia in North Africa and at Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, North Apennines and the Po Valley in the Italian campaign.
Mr. O'Donnell received the: Combat Infantryman Badge, Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle East Campaign Service Medal with five bronze battle stars, American Defense Service Medal, World War II Victory Medal and five overseas service bars.
He was discharged on Aug. 6, 1945.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The St. Louis County World War II Project. 228.
