William Francis Trump (November 7, 1923 – July 24, 2009) served aboard a Landing Craft Infantry vessel during four amphibious assaults, during World War II.[1][2][3][4] His vessel, the USS LCI-90, participated in the invasion of French North Africa, Sicily and Anzio in 1943, and in the Invasion of Normandy in 1944. It was during the Invasion of Normandy that Trump earned a Silver Star. He volunteered to venture onto the Omaha Beach and anchor a safety line for the 200 soldiers his vessel carried to follow ashore. Trump had to make his way past heavily mined beach fortifications, while under heavy enemy fire. His helmet was creased by a German bullet.
William Trump | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | November 7, 1923 Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania |
| Died | July 24, 2009 (aged 85) St. Petersburg, Florida |
| Service | United States Coast Guard |
Trump lied about his age, and enlisted in the Coast Guard in 1941 at 17 years old.[5][6] He retired as a chief petty officer, in 1965
After retirement Trump joined the Merchant Marine, serving for fifteen years aboard vessels of Belcher Oil Company.[4][5]
Only eleven other members of the Coast Guard have been awarded the Silver Star.[7]
USCGC William Trump
editIn 2010 when the Coast Guard decided that all the new Sentinel class cutters would be named after Coast Guard enlisted personnel who had been recognized for their heroism; Trump was one of those to be honored.[2][8] The eleventh cutter in the class was named the USCGC William Trump. She will be homeported in Key West, Florida.[6][9] Trump's eight children attended a dedication ceremony at the Bollinger Shipyards in Louisiana in March 2012.[5] Trump's eldest grandson, Jeremy Trump, became a Navy SEAL, saying that it was only after he enlisted that he and his grandfather discussed his record.[10]
Silver Star citation
edit
General Orders: Commander 12th Fleet: Serial 10336 (October 26, 1944)
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Motor Machinist's Mate First Class William F. Trump, United States Coast Guard (Reserve), for gallantry and intrepidity in action in the assault phase of an LCI (L) which landed troops in the face of severe enemy fire and despite a profusion of beach obstacles on the coast of France on 6 June 1944. Having volunteered for the assignment Motor Machinist's Mate First Class Trump waded between the heavily mined beach obstacles and dragged an anchor and anchor-line to shallow water, thereby providing a safety line for troops to follow. His determination to carry out his duty in disregard to the many dangers close at hand was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard service.[11]
References
edit- ^ a b Connie Braesch (2010-11-09). "Coast Guard Heroes: William Trump". United States Coast Guard. Archived from the original on 2012-09-03.
- ^ a b Stephanie Young (2010-10-27). "Coast Guard Heroes". United States Coast Guard. Archived from the original on 2012-11-27. Retrieved 2012-04-20.
- ^
"William F. Trump". Military Times. Archived from the original on 2012-06-05.
Having volunteered for the assignment Motor Machinist's Mate First Class Trump waded between the heavily mined beach obstacles and dragged an anchor and anchor-line to shallow water, thereby providing a safety line for troops to follow. His determination to carry out his duty in disregard to the many dangers close at hand was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard service.
- ^ a b "William Francis Trump: Obituary". Tampa Bay Times. 2009-07-26. Archived from the original on 2014-12-05.
- ^ a b c
Patty Ryan (2012-03-03). "A life at sea, a WWII hero and a ship". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on 2012-03-06. Retrieved 2013-01-09.
He lied about his age at 17 to join the Coast Guard. Three years later, on D-day, he lugged a landing craft's anchor line to Omaha Beach under fire, earning a Silver Star.
- ^ a b
Vanessa Pellechio (2012-03-26). "Coast Guard cutter to carry vet's name". Bloomsburg Daily. Retrieved 2013-01-15.
Late Bloomsburg man earned honor of $50M ship through heroism at D-Day.
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Stephanie Young (2010-10-28). "Coast Guard Heroes: Robert J. Yered". United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 2012-04-20.
Yered's valorous character shone through many times throughout his career and he is one of 12 Coast Guardsmen awarded the Silver Star.
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"FRC Plan B: The Sentinel Class". Defense Industry Daily. 2014-05-02. Archived from the original on 2014-07-07. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
All of these boats will be named after enlisted Coast Guard heroes, who distinguished themselves in USCG or military service. The first 25 have been named, but only 8 have been commissioned...
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Rhonda Carpenter (2012-11-05). "Coast Guard Commissions Third Fast Response Cutter, William Flores". Defense Media Network. Archived from the original on 2013-03-24.
The first six FRCs for District 7 will be homeported in Miami; the next six in Key West; and the remaining six in Puerto Rico.
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"Anchored in service: A hero is remembered". DVIDSHUB. Key West. 2015-01-25. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
Despite being an American hero, the grandchildren of William Trump had no idea about their grandfather's World War II service, according to William Trump, a grandson and namesake of William Trump.
- ^ "William Trump - Recipient -". valor.militarytimes.com. Retrieved 12 April 2024.