Group photo Svc/331
Group photo Service Company, 331st IR at Camp Breckinridge 1944
The photo featured is a well kept original group photo in very good condition. This Company photograph was taken while at Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky. Probably early 1944 (March), before leaving for the ETO.
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Photo and names kept by Lester H. Plum, Svc/331, and kindly donated by his doughter Elizabeth 'Lizzy' (Plume) Fuss
T/5 Lester D. Plume
Technician 5th Grade
Lester D. Plume
Technician 5th Grade Lester H. Plume
Lester Houston Plume was born on June 6, 1914 in Union Bridge, Maryland to Alice Wanda Frank (1892-1974) and Joseph Samuel Plume (1882-1926). He lost his father when he was twelve years old and grow up with his mother and his two brothers. He married Ruth Elizabeth Koons on June 8, 1939. Ruth and Lester moved to Martinsburg, West Virginia, shortly after they were married.
Lester H. Plume enlisted in the Army on November 9, 1942, in Camp Atterbury, Indiana. He was one of the early members of the 331st regiment, in 1943, Cpl. Lester H. Plume served as the chaplain's assistant in Service Company, 331st Infantry Regiment at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. He was with them at basic training in Camp Atterbury, then went to Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky. Early April, 1944 the 331st was stationed at Camp Shanks from where they left the US, headed for Europe, arrived in Liverpool from where they left for Wales by train. The unit boarded for France but due to heavy weather it took them 5 days to arrive at Omaha Beach. He stayed with the 331st Infantry Regiment for the remainder of the war. For his service he was awarded the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal for Wounded in Action in Belgium on January 11, 1945, the European African Middle-Eastern Campaign Medal with 5 campaign stars, the World War Two Victory Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
Lester Plume began working for the Post Office shortly after World War II and became assistant post office superintendent. Lester was also a member of Christ Reformed Church of Martinsburg and an active member of the Martinsburg Veterans of Foreign Wars Chapter. He died on September 12, 1970 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Martinsburg.
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With Elizabeth 'Libby' Plume Fuss and here husband Gerald Fuss in the footsteps of Lester H. Plume. From de Normandy Beaches over Luxembourg to the Ardennes. .....
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A Faithful Soldier Writes Home - By Elizabeth Plume Fuss
An old heavy suitcase that belonged to the widow of a World War II soldier had been moved from place to place over many years. The contents remained unknown other than an explanation to her daughter that it contained “your Daddy’s letters.” After her death the suitcase revealed a family treasure and a legacy. The letters tell the story of a soldier’s experience in Europe with the 83rd Division, known as The Thunderbolt, and portray a beautiful tale of love and devotion. They describe the heroic actions that earned a Bronze Star for Valor and a Purple Heart. They illustrate the limitations of communication in the 1940s and describe the contrasts of going from a clean home to fox holes and destroyed buildings; from clean sheets on a soft, warm bed to dirty blankets on a cold floor. The old suitcase also contained letters from and about the widow’s young brother who was killed when his B-24 Liberator was downed over Belgium the night before the D-Day invasion. This book shares these letters and also accompanying pictures and documents in appendices such as General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s D-Day speech, Bronze Star Medal citations and an award-winning essay What I Am Fighting For. These letters tell a love story and chronicle the day-to-day life of a WWII soldier who was faithful to his country, his faith and his beloved wife.