Roy Morrison
(1924-2019)
Roy Morrison was born in 1924 in Metheun, Massachusetts, and served as a Private First Class in L Company, 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division during WWII. Landing on Utah Beach on D-Day + 4 (June 10, 1944), Roy saw fierce combat in Normandy until he was severely wounded in action.
On July 14, 1944, Roy's 20th birthday, he was shot by a German machine gun near the city of St. Lo. During this attack, he was hit by two bullets in the leg, but at the time, doctors only found one. Nearly 60 years later, doctors discovered the second bullet, much to his surprise. It was removed, and Roy wore it around his neck on a chain for the rest of his life.
He recalled that, "If I carried the weight all these years, I could carry the weight the rest of my life."
For wounds received in action, Roy was awarded the Purple Heart Medal.
After his passing in March of 2019, his son Frank donated the Purple Heart, bullet, dog tag, and other artifacts from his father's wartime service to the WWII Veterans History Project.
Roy Morrison holds his Purple Heart medal.
Purple Heart awarded to Private First Class Roy Morrison for wounds received in action, Normandy, France, July 14, 1944.
An X-Ray taken shortly before it was removed, shows the bullet still inside Roy's body. He never knew it was there until 60 years after he was shot.
Roy Morrison's uniform, dog tag, and bullet, which are part of the WWII Veterans History Project collection.
Roy Morrison's grave.
Roy's original US Army discharge paperwork, indicating his service history and campaigns in the European Theater.