Grave marker for Howard H.
Gouge in the Garden of Valor, Lot 12, Section B, Space 2 of the Garden
of Memories, Panama City (Bay), Florida.
Howard
signed up for the Draft and later enlisted in the
Army on 29 September 1942 in Camp Blanding, FL. That date and
place was fateful as the 508th PIR was activated there less than a month
later. Whatever unit Howard had been in for the past three weeks
lost him as he transferred into Company A of the parachutist regiment.
His bravery in combat was soon proven as in Normandy he
won the Silver Star twice.
Sgt Gouge was wounded in action on 3 July 1944 in
Normandy France and again on 10 Oct 1944 in Holland and was awarded the
Purple Heart with one Oak Leaf Cluster. In both instances he was
able to return to duty with short recuperations. |