Albert M. Richardson was born January 1926 in Stone County,Arkansas near the small town of Timbo. In January 1944, he registered with the Selective Service, had his physical exam in February, and in March reportedto Camp Robinson, Arkansas for Basic Training. He subsequently wasassigned to "L" Company, 34th Infantry Regiment, 87^th Infantry Division for Advanced Unit Training at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina. 

In late August 1944, the 8th Division boardedthe Queen Elizabethand sailed for England in preparation for the Alliedground invasion of Germany.The Division subsequently moved toLe Havre France and began preparations to breach the infamous"Siegfried Line". On 23 December, 1944 while the 87^th Division was preparing to commence the assault, elements of the 8th Division came under heavy German artillery fireand Albert was seriously wounded. 

His left arm was completely severed three inches below his shoulder. Other shell fragments from the same round tore intohis right leg, fracturing thethigh bone and destroying most of the muscle tissue there.  Another shell fragment from that same round thenshattered the bones in his right tibia and fibula and also destroyed most of the muscle tissue in his right calf.

             So serious werethe leg wounds,that medical personnel would have amputated hisleft leg                   if  not for the fact Albert's right arm had been completely severed and Albert would not                     have been able to use crutches to walk.  So they conducted extensive bone grafts in both                   his thigh andcalf, and inserted several long silver screws to hold his leg together.                  However, his left leg ended uptwo inches shorter than his right leg and was almost useless               because of the extensive muscletissue and bone damage.