World War II Illinois Veterans Memorial

Breeden, Richard – 78th Lightning Division

Richard Breeden – 78th Lightning Division
Place of Entry: Scott Field, Illinois
309th Armor Service Infantry
Grade: Tech 5
Battles & Campaigns: Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, Central Europe
Decorations & Citations: Victory Medal; American Theater Ribbon; European, African, Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon; 4 Bronze Battle Bars; 3 Overseas Service Bars; and a Good Conduct Metal

Richard Breeden I was inducted into the army March 12, 1943 at Fort Sheridan and reported to Scott Field for active duty on March 19, 1943. From there I went to North Carolina for basic training. On June 3, 1944; I boarded the Mereposia at Boston Harbor Pier 3 and arrived in Glasgow, Scotland on June 11, 1944. From there, we took a train to Bath, England where we remained about three months. I entered France at Omaha Beach and was assigned to a vehicle replacement outfit. Our job was to deliver vehicles to the front line to replace those that had been destroyed. About the time Paris was liberated, I was running supplies with the Red Ball Express. From then on, our headquarters was in Paris. I remember being on the subway in Paris when I saw a picture of President Roosevelt in the paper a French man was reading. It was he that told me the president was dead.

When we took some trucks up to the front lines of the “Battle of the Bulge”, they were in the process of retreating. Upon arrival, the first thing the commanding officer asked me and my partner was if we could drive a tank. Seems that the men available did not know how. So, we helped them move the tanks back about 50 miles.

Another incident I remember well happened when my partner and I attempted to find my twin brother in Germany. We had stopped the trucks we were driving on a bridge to look at a map. We looked and saw a German tank coming around a mountain. About that time the front truck blew up. We quickly backed the remaining truck off the bridge and got behind the Allied line. I never was able to meet up with my brother.

I loaded a boat to return to the states on December 13, 1945 and crossed a very stormy Atlantic Ocean. I arrived in at Staten Island, New York on the day after Christmas, December 26, 1945. From there to Fort Dix, New Jersey; and then a train to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I was honorably discharged in Chicago at Fort Sheridan on December 31, 1945

Submitted by:
Sandra Bunnell, Daughter

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6 Comments to “Breeden, Richard – 78th Lightning Division”

Jim Breeden Says:
August 17th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Ms. Bunnell, was your father Richard the son of Henry J. Breeden, or related to him? Henry J. Breeden was my great-grandfather, and my grandfather was Albert Breeden.
I was born in Lincoln, Illinois, and my father Arthur said that his uncles moved to Iowa–as far as he knew.
What was the name of your father’s twin?
Thanks,
Jim Breeden
debbie breeden white Says:
December 9th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
jim breeden…my sister sandy has done our family tree…i know we are related to albert breeden…dads twin was robert breeden..he lived in daphne ala near mobile..i think my grandfather..william breeden s father was albert breeden…you can e-mail me at whites@centurytel.net and i will forward to my sister…thanks debbie breeden white
Sandy (Breeden) Bunnell Says:
January 29th, 2010 at 5:35 pm
This special man, who was my dad, died on December 16, 2009

Sandy
Jack Lee Says:
March 29th, 2010 at 10:57 pm
Hi:
I’m doing a U.S history project that I would like to introduce Richard Breeden.
I wanna know what did Mr. Breeden do after the war.(Jobs)
And the impact to Mr. Breeden himself.
Any lessons in their lfe that they would like to pass on.

Thanks for helping.
Hope God is with him.

Jack
Tom Gau Says:
August 3rd, 2010 at 7:12 am
Breeden family,

Thank you for posting this information so your dad’s legacy can live on. I’m so sorry to hear of the passing of this great American. May he rest in peace.
Linda G. Breeden Says:
August 27th, 2010 at 8:23 am
Please e:mail me more information, because I am a Breeden also. My father was born in South Carolina. James Edward Breeden

Breeden, Richard – 78th Lightning Division

6 Comments to “Breeden, Richard – 78th Lightning Division”

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