Staff Sergeant Eugene Oscar Adler
2/23/1915 - 10/6/2003
Son of Frank and Mary Greubel Adler/Grandson of Nicholas Adler
World War II United States Army
307th Airborne Engineer Battalion, 139th Airborne Engineer Battalion, 17th Airborne Division
Decorations and Citations:
American Theater Ribbon
European, African, Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with 3 Bronze Stars
Good Conduct Medal on 8/26/43
Purple Heart awarded at Vittel France 6/20/45 for wounds received on 4/10/45
Victory Medal
Bronze Arrowhead awarded on 5/1/45
Military Badges:
Glider Badge
Carbine Sharpshooter
Rifle Sharpshooter
Bayonet Expert
Gene Adler was inducted into the US Army on March 19, 1942 (the Feast of St. Joseph) at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana as Private First Class. He was promoted to Corporal on July 10,
1942 at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana and promoted again to Sergeant on October 6, 1942 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. His military occupation was that of a construction foreman.
Gene’s path through the European Theater in WWII:
He landed at Liverpool, England and participated in Battle of the Bulge at Bastogne in the
Ardennes Forest from December 16, 1944 to January 25, 1945.
He was wounded in action when he suffered a concussion and back injury from a mine explosion in January, 1944. He was treated at the dispensary in Wiltz, Luxembourg. During World War II, according to Wikipedia, “Wiltz was at the center of intensive battles between Allied and German forces in 1944. Previously, in 1942, a general strike had been initiated in Wiltz, that spread throughout the country, and remains one of the proudest moments of Luxembourg national history. These events took their toll on the Wiltz population, and Wiltz was named Martyr Town after the war. A monument representing a lighthouse was erected to commemorate the victims of the repression following the 1942 General Strike. The relief on the monument is by Luxembourg's best-known modern sculptor Lucien Wercollier.”
He received a Purple Heart for wounds incurred on April 10, 1945.
He helped build the Ryan-Money Bridge in May of 1945.
He made four successful glider flights in July 1945.
He served in the Rhineland from August 6, 1945 to November 13, 1945.
He served in Central Europe and was stationed in Berlin for 3 months.
He was honorably discharged on Dec. 19, 1945 from Camp Atterbury, Indiana after serving in
the US Army 3 years and 9 months.
Gene Adler was awarded the Certificate of Merit on June 21, 1945. It states:
“Staff Sergeant Adler distinguished himself by superior performance of duty during the period from January 4, 1945 to May 30, 1945. He volunteered for many hazardous patrols into enemy territory and his conscientiousness and devotion to duty gained the respect of his officers and men. His actions were in keeping with the highest standards of military service.”
Gene Adler returned to southern Indiana after his distinguished military career and worked as a letter carrier for the US Postal Service. He died at age 88 in Princeton, Indiana.
