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, 87th 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 87th 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.
Albert subsequently celebrated his next three birthdays (19th, 20th and21st) inArmy military hospitals. He was finallydischarged on July 2, 1947 - obviously with 100% service-connected VA disability.