County pays tribute to Tannersville WWII hero

CATSKILL―Local veterans and dignitaries joined members of the Allen family at the Historic Catskill Point on Saturday to salute a true American hero.

U.S. Army Sergeant Boyd F. Allen was posthumously honored as the recipient of the 2026 Greene County Memorial Veteran Award in a ceremony that included an American Legion color guard, prayer, song and plentiful words of admiration.

“Sergeant Allen bravely served during the Battle of the Bulge and was awarded two Purple Hearts, along with many other combat and campaign medals throughout World War II,” said Assemblyman Chris Tague, one of the guest speakers.

A lifelong resident of Tannersville, Allen enlisted in the Army in April of 1943, and served with the 23rd Armored Engineers Battalion, 3rd Armored Division, during World War II.

During the Battle of the Bulge, his duties included the hazardous work of clearing landmines and supporting frontline mobility and defensive operations under active combat operations.

Called “the greatest American battle of the war” by Winston Churchill, the Battle of the Bulge took place in the Ardennes region of Belgium from December 16, 1944, to January 25, 1945, during harsh winter weather.

Allen was also among the first units to cross the Rhine, part of advance U.S. forces to liberate Nazi extermination camps.

He received the WWII Victory Medal, European African Middle Eastern Service Medal, American Service Medal, and Good Conduct Medal. He was also awarded two Purple Hearts for wounds sustained in combat.

Upon returning home, Allen was elected mayor of Tannersville and later operated a surveying company that served a wide area across Greene County. As a surveyor, he also worked on the Erie and Panama canals and the initial layout of the Manhattan Project, the atomic bomb development site.

For 16 years, Allen served as Greene County superintendent of highways.

He passed away on January 6, 2013, just before his 99th birthday.

Speakers at Saturday’s ceremony included Assemblyman Chris Tague, Greene County Legislative Chairman Patrick Linger, Greene County Undersheriff Tracey Quinn and Greene County Director of Veteran's Services Tyler Lynch, as well as representatives from the offices of Senator Michelle Hinchey and Congressman Josh Riley.

Greene County Veterans Service Agency hosts two such events each year: one in May to honor a deceased veteran and another in November to honor a living veteran.

“We can never forget the courage, sacrifice, and patriotism of the Greatest Generation,” said Tague. “Men like Sergeant Allen helped preserve freedom and opportunity and made America the greatest nation in the history of the world.”