Tec 5. Fred C. Pearson

Biography and Wartime Service

Fred C. Pearson was a member of 1st. Platoon, B Battery, 453rd AAA AW Battalion. This battalion was the only AAA Battalion that was permanently assigned to the 83rd Infantry Division from Normandy to the Elbe River.

Before he was assigned to the 83rd, Fred was a member of an X (expendable) Battery. His battery landed on D+6 on Utah Beach assigned to the 4th Infantry to protect the division's artillery units. When the 83rd landed some time later on Omaha Beach the entire battalion was again brought together and assigned to the 83rd Infantry.

When going through Sainteny Fred picked up a souvenir from the rubble of a house and took it home with him. It belonged to a citizen of Sainteny that was a POW in Germany and had send the item to his wife at home. When Fred learned about the fact the Mayor of Sainteny would be present at the 83rd Reunion in West Point he decided to bring the souvenir with him and hand it over. It was returned to the widow of the French POW during the 2014 D-Day commemoration on June 3 in Sainteny.

Gallery

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