Born and raised on the southwest side of Chicago, Dick Duchossois attended high school at Morgan Park Military Academy, then enrolled at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Kentucky. He left college in January, 1942, and by virtue of his military training in high school, was commissioned a lieutenant in the infantry and assigned to a tank destroyer battalion. LT Duchossois saw action with the 610th Tank Destroyer Battalion in northern France, including combat at the Falaise Gap, at the Moselle River (where he was injured), and during the Battle of the Bulge. Following the German surrender, he was the military governor for the region of Kreis Eichstätt for a short time.
Interview Links
Feature Excerpt
Falaise Gap and Bedcheck Charlie
Abstract
Interview Session 01 (Audio)
High school and college years, military training & combat in France
Interview Session 02 (Audio)
Combat in France & Germany, occupation duty & return to civilian life
Video
Photos
Caption
A photo of Captain Dick Duchossois taken sometime in early 1945 while he was in Europe. He proudly wears the patch and insignia for Tank Setroyer units, and his ribbon includes the Purple Heart.
Where:
Europe
When:
Early 1945
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
A photo of Lieutenant Dick Duchossois shortly after his commissioning. He was commissioned at the age of twenty, after leaving college early and taking a direct commission due to training he had received in high school.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.