Lieutenant Arnold William Preece O2011512 (Enlisted number 39546155) US Army. He was born on September 8, 1915, in Lawn Texas, the son of James Preece, and Lena Preece. He married Lorayne Davis on April 8, 1939, in Yuma, Arizona they lived at 2737 Iowa Street, Indio California in 1940. He entered the US Army on November 28, 1942, at the age of 27. At the time of his enlistment he was 5 foot 8 inches weighed 180 pounds had blue eyes and brown hair. He served at Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi and in combat with Company F, 253rd Infantry Regiment, 63rdInfantry Division. He Served in 2nd and 3rd Platoon as an enlisted man.
His leadership that he showed along with the need of more officers resulted in him and Richard H.Homes receiving Battlefield Commission, on March 14, 1945. He served as the platoon leader of 1st Platoon until April 6, 1945 when he was wounded in action while taking the town of Buchhof Germany.
After retiring from the hospital he was reassigned to F Company until he was transfused to the 100th Infantry Division on June 25, 1945. He was discharged on May 9, 1946. He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, the Silver Star Medal, Bronze Stare Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, The American Theater of operations, the European Theater of Operations Medal ETO with 2 battle star, and the World War Two Victory Medal. He died on February 25, 1989, in California at the age of 73.
1- The Battle of Buchhof and Stein am Kocher
2- https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=1&cat=all&tf=F&q=39546155&bc=sd&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=7969902
3- U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010
4- in the Arizona, County Marriage Records, 1865-1972
5- the 1940 United States Federal Census
6- the 1930 United States Federal Census
7- U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947