Grave marker for
Gilbert H. Cottrell (CSM, Ret.) in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Salem (Dent
county), Missouri Gilbert enlisted in the
Army at Jefferson Barracks, MO on 4 November 1942.
Pvt Cottrell was assigned to Company B, 508th PIR
and remained with that unit throughout WWII.
On 17 July 1943 he was promoted to T/5 and then on
20 March 1944 he was appointed to the grade of T/4.
T/4 Cottrell participated in the jump into
Normandy on d-Day and was initially listed as MIA but returned
to duty as of 14 June. He may have been one of the many who
were mis-dropped and eventually found their unit after a few days.
On 21 July T/4 Cottrell sewed on the stripes of a
sergeant.
Sgt Cottrell was wounded in action in Holland on
14 October 1944 and hospitalized. He rejoined the company on
16 November.
Sgt Cottrell 's military decorations include the
Purple Heart and the Bronze service Arrowhead device which was
awarded for participation in Normandy assault.
He apparently remained in the army and achieved
the rank of Command Master Sergeant. |