Pvt. John William Freeman

Freeman Gets Purple Heart

D. Oscar Freeman of Englewood, Route 1 in Monroe Co., Tenn., recently received the Purple Heart decoration posthumously awarded by the War Department by order of the President, for his son, John William Freeman, who was killed in action Aug. 5, in North Africa.

The citation stated that his gallantry throughout the services he had rendered had been superb and that he gave his all for his country.

This family lost another son, Virgil D. Freeman, in action in 1942 and at present time have two others, Caleb and Earl, serving on the battlefields. There are 12 children in the family.

The Knoxville Journal, Thu., Nov 25, 1943

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The Purple Heart has been posthumously awarded to John William Freeman of Englewood Route 1, who was killed in action in North Africa on Aug. 5. The War Department has forwarded the decoration to his father, Mr. Oscar "Dee" Freeman. Virgil D. Freeman, a brother, was also killed in action in 1942. Caleb and Earl, two other sons of Mr. and Mrs. Freeman, are in the armed forces.
John was also known as "Alaska/Laskie"

John W. Freeman

ID: 06927093
Entered the Service From: Tennessee
Rank: Private First Class

Service: U.S. Army, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division

Died: Thursday, August 05, 1943
Buried at: Sicily-Rome American Cemetery
Location: Nettuno, Italy
Plot: I Row: 4 Grave: 19

Awards: Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster

Researcher and Designer

Joy Locke & Joe Irons