Rex G. Combs enlisted in the U.S. Army on July 26, 1942 in Los Angeles, CA. He was trained as a Tank Destroyer at Fort Knox, KY but was then selected to attend OCS (Officer Candidate School) at Camp Hood, Texas. Upon earning his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant, he volunteered for parachutist duty.

He was 31 when he went to jump school at Fort Benning, GA, quite old for a paratrooper, and he was sick with a bad cold and a fever during most of the training, but he made it. He was very athletic as a young adult and excelled in basketball, running, boxing and swimming (fancy diving) etc. His physical condition helped him through parachute school.

After earning his parachutist wings following completion of the five qualifying jumps, Rex was shipped overseas and was transferred from Field Force Replacement Depot #3 to the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) in April 1944.. The 508th PIR was then at Wollaton Park, Nottingham, England undergoing final training for its coming role in Europe.

Rex jumped into Normandy on D-Day as well as in Holland. He also fought in Belgium (the Battle of the Bulge). When approaching the drop zone in Holland (Operation Market-Garden), his aircraft was hit and going down in flames when he exited. He was dropped some 2000 yards yards east of he DZ and actually landed in Wyler, Germany rather than the intended area of Grosbeek, Holland.

He excelled as an officer with many notable acts of bravery in combat. His awards include the Silver Star with one Oak Leaf Cluster (OLC), the Purple Heart with three OLC, Distinguished Unit Citation, the French and The Belgian Fourragere, the Netherlands Military Order of William, Combat Infantryman Badge and the Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Arrowhead for participation in Operation Neptune, Normandy, D-Day, 6 June, 1944 and four Campaign Stars denoting participation in Normandy, Holland, Belgium and Central Europe.

In addition, he was knighted by Queen Wilhelmina of The Netherlands with the award of the The Dutch Bronze Lion, by: "distinguishing himself during the operations of the 82nd Airborne Division in the area of NIJMEGEN in the period from September 17 to October 4, 1944, by doing particularly gallant and tactful deeds and setting, in every respect, a praise worthy example in very difficult circumstances."

Rex died unexpectedly at the second annual reunion of the 508th PIR at the Marriott Hotel, Chicago Illinois.

His son, SP4 Paul Combs, US Army, was a member of the 25th Infantry Division. He was killed in action in Tay Ninh, Vietnam due to small arms fire when he went in to clear out an enemy bunker.

He served with A CO, 4TH BN, 23RD INFANTRY, 25TH INF

SP4 Combs received both Bronze Star Medals; one for Valor and the other for Meritorious Service and the Purple Heart.

His name appears on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, DC
Panel 35E - Line 4

Source: Find a Grave