Michael P. Fedora

NAME: Michael P. Fedora

ASN: 17049706

PLACE OF BIRTH: ???, ND

DATE OF BIRTH: ?? ??? 1914

DATES OF SERVICE: 26 Feb 1942 - ?? ??? ????

UNIT ASSIGNED:

509th PIR

I Company, 3rd Battalion, 505th PIR

CAMPAIGNS: Naples-Foggia, Normandy, Rhineland

AWARDS: Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge with two combat jump stars, Pathfinder Badge, Purple Heart Medal, EAME Campaign Medal with arrowhead and two campaign stars, WWII Victory Medal

SUMMARY OF SERVICE:

26 Feb 1942 - Enlisted at Fort Snelling, MN - NARA Enlistment Record

It is believed he was first assigned to the 509th PIB possibly in Oct 1943 and transferred for reasons unknown to the 505th prior to their departure on 22 Nov 1943 from Naples, Italy to Oran, North Africa. This is based on a wool shirt with his ASN and a 509th PIB Parachute Tab.

He is listed in the book American Airborne Pathfinders of WWII by Jeff Moran on page 60 where it lists him as Sgt. Fedora formerly of Item Company but now assigned as the Assistant Radar Operator for Pathfinder Team for 3rd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division on Plane #11 during Operation OVERLORD designated to drop on DZ ‘O’.

There is a picture of Plane 11 Pathfinders and Aircrew on page 61.

00 Sep 1944 - Sgt. Fedora was wounded in action in the femur from artillery shrapnel during Operation MARKET GARDEN