, ▁then ▁as ▁Executive ▁officer ▁to ▁Ass istant ▁Chief ▁of ▁Staff ▁G - 1 , ▁First ▁Army , ▁during ▁invasion ▁planning ▁in ▁England ▁and ▁combat ▁in ▁Europe ▁until ▁V - E ▁Day , ▁and ▁then ▁transferred ▁with ▁First ▁Army ▁Pl anning ▁Head quarters ▁to ▁Can lub ang , ▁Philipp ine ▁Islands , ▁August ▁ 5 , ▁ 1 9 4 5 . ▁He ▁was ▁released ▁from ▁active ▁duty ▁February ▁ 2 7 , ▁ 1 9 4 6 , ▁as ▁a ▁lieutenant ▁colon el , ▁Army ▁Reserve , ▁and ▁retired ▁as ▁a ▁colon el ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 4 . ▁He ▁was ▁awarded ▁the ▁Leg ion ▁of ▁Mer it , ▁Bron ze ▁Star ▁Medal , ▁and ▁French ▁Med aille ▁de ▁Re con na issance . ▁He ▁served ▁as ▁chairman ▁of ▁the ▁Mar ion ▁County ▁Ju ven ile ▁Court ▁Ad vis ory ▁Council ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 8 ▁and ▁ 1 9 4 9 . ▁ ▁He ▁was ▁an ▁active ▁member ▁of ▁The ▁American ▁Leg ion ▁and ▁belonged ▁to ▁John ▁H . ▁H oll iday , ▁Jr . ▁American ▁Leg ion ▁Post ▁ 1 8 6 ▁in ▁Indian apolis . ▁ ▁He ▁was ▁elected ▁as ▁the ▁ 3 3 rd ▁Commander ▁of ▁the ▁Department ▁of ▁Indiana ' s ▁ 1 1 th ▁District , ▁en comp ass ing ▁all ▁of ▁Mar ion ▁County - including ▁Indian apolis , ▁serving ▁from ▁the ▁time ▁of ▁his ▁election ▁in ▁the ▁summer ▁of ▁ 1 9 4 9 ▁until ▁his ▁declaration ▁as ▁a ▁candidate ▁for ▁the