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The World War II memorial is dedicated to the honor of Macon County military personnel, Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard, who were killed in World War II. The memorial is also dedicated to the “soldiers without guns,” those who worked on the home front to help win the war according to the article “Ready for duty: warld War II Memorial to be dedicated Friday”. The black granite memorial is located in front of the Decatur Civic Center and scripts over 300 honorary names. More than 8 years ago the late “Pete” Nicholls conceived the idea of the memorial and worked endless hours with Gordon Brenner, a Vietnam Veteran to get funding.

According to the Harold Review “Pete” Nicholls received the Sliver Star and Bronze Stars for his heroic actions during the war. “As 19-year-old in the U.S. Army’s 465th Field Artillery unit, Nicholls was on the island of Luzon on May 17, 1945, with two buddies when a Japanese grenade landed in their foxhole. Nicholls tossed his helmet over the grenade. The explosion blew Nicholls into the air. Only the thumb remains on his right hand. He lost two fingers on his left hand.”

The Ware World II memorial was unveiled on September 12, 2012.

References:

http://herald-review.com/news/local/ready-for-duty-world-war-ii-memorial-to-be-dedicated/article_0f2a5a70-f7df-11e1-b71b-0019bb2963f4.html