Roger J. Horan
Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army

On 29 June 1944, Second Lieutenant Roger J. Horan was serving with the 32nd Armored Regiment, 3rd Armored Division, First U.S. Army.

On that day, the first elements of 2LT Horan’s 3rd Armored Division in France saw its first action against German forces. 2LT Horan’s courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals and Awards

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Arrowhead Pin and Bronze Star
World War II Victory Medal

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)

Second Lieutenant Roger J. Horan (ASN: 0-1012610), United States Army, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with the 32d Armored Regiment, 3d Armored Division, in action against enemy forces on 29 June 1944. Second Lieutenant Horan's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 3d Armored Division, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, First U.S. Army, General Orders No. 56 (1944)

Memorialization

The remains of Second Lieutenant Roger J. Horan have never been recovered. He is memorialized with his name inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, Departement du Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France.

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=56645756