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 will be returned to the widow of the French POW during this year's commemoration on June 3 in Sainteny.

	Fred Pearson on September 13, 1944 at Chateau Renault, France.
Fred Pearson standing alongside the 453rd AAA AW Battalion sign with the newly designed Oozlefinch on top of it in 1943 at Fort Knox, Kentucky. The 453rd was training with the Armored Forces, working on mobilizing the Quad Mount fifties from a tracked vehicle to a mobile unit. A large sign with the modified Oozlefinch was displayed at the entrance of the Battalion area. A plaque with Oozlefinch and each battery listed was also made at this time. This plaque was awarded to the Battery with the best Saturday inspection, to hold for the following week.
	Little display I made with several items I received from Fred C. Pearson. The rectangular patch with the bird is called the Oozlefinch. The Oozlefinch was the mascot of the 453rd AAA AW Battalion during World War 2 and was adapted from the Coastal Artillery. This design was created by Pvt. Voicunis. Supposedly the origin of the Oozelfinch was that of a European Bird of somewhat like description, with a somewhat similar name, Ezel Finch. Hence Oozlefinch. The little pin is the modern-day Oozlefinch still used by the Patriot Missile Command.