World War II Honoree

William E. 'Peter' Plank

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Ottumwa, Iowa

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

Relationship

Friend

INDUCTED JANUARY 4, 1942 AT FORT DES MOINES, IOWA. SERVED AS A COMBAT INFANTRYMAN (ARMORER) WITH COMPANY G, 126TH INFANTRY, 32ND INFANTRY 'RED ARROW' DIVISION. SAILED OVERSEAS FROM SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA APRIL 22, 1942 ABOARD THE 'SS LURLINE.' ARRIVED ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA MAY 14, 1942. SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER UNTIL MARCH 11, 1945. PARTICIPATED IN THE PAPUA, NEW GUINEA, LEYTE AND LUZON CAMPAIGNS. CROSSED THE RUGGED OWEN STANLEY MOUNTAINS ON FOOT AND PARTICIPATED IN THE ASSAULT ON BUNA, NEW GUINEA. AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL FOR ACTION DURING THE PAPUAN CAMPAIGN AND THE PURPLE HEART FOR WOUNDS RECEIVED ON DECEMBER 5, 1942 AT BUNA. LATER PARTICIPATED IN THE AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT LANDING AT SAIDOR AND COMBAT OPERATIONS AT AITAPE IN NEW GUINEA; THEN AT MOROTAI ISLAND AND AT LEYTE IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH ARROWHEAD AND 4 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL (JAPAN), PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL, THE DISTINGUISHED UNIT EMBLEM (PAPUA), THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION AND THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF TECHNICIAN FIFTH GRADE ON MAY 13, 1945 AT JEFFERSON BARRACKS, MISSOURI.