Samuel Edward Hardy was inducted into the United States Army on November 1, 1942. He took his basic training at Fort Knot, KY. He was shipped overseas to North Africa on the ship Empress of Japan. He landed at Casablanca then moved to Cork Forest of Rebat. His group was guarding the Spanish Moroccan border. After moving to Port Lyautey and the Port of Oran, they left for Italy.
Sam was attached to the 76th Battalion which took part in the battles and campaigns of the PO valley, Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno and the North Apennines. He helped supply and retrieve tanks used in the combat of Mt. Porchia and Cassino and others. Sam left Italy by plane to come back to the United States where he was discharged [in October] 1945.
Sam received the Purple Heart for wounds he received on May 12, 1945 in Italy. He also received the Good Conduct Ribbon and the EAME Theater Ribbon with four bronze stars.
During World War II, parents of service men and women were allowed to hang a white rectangle flag with stars in their window to honor the service man. Gold stars were for men or women killed in action, silver stars were for missing in action and blue stars were for those serving in the army, all at one time. Samuel Edward Hardy was one of the blue stars in his mother’s flag.
We honor you, Samuel Hardy.