World War II Honoree

George D. Zemper

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Toledo, Ohio

Honored By

Jude Zemper

Relationship

Son

WORKED IN JEEP FACTORY IN TOLEDO, OHIO WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL. DRAFTED AND WAS TAKEN OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND INDUCTED INTO THE ARMY IN FEBRUARY 1945 AT CAMP ATTERBURY, INDIANA. TRAINED AT CAMP MAXWELL AND CAMP FANNIN IN TYLER, TEXAS. TRANSPORTED TO THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS ON THE USS JOHN LAND; TRAINED IN HAWAII. WAS TO BE IN THE FIRST WAVE IN THE INVASION OF JAPAN (OPERATION OLYMPIC); SPARED BY THE DROPPING OF THE ATOMIC BOMB AND SUBSEQUENT END OF THE WAR. MADE UNOPPOSED BEACH ASSAULT LANDING. MEMBER OF 98TH INFANTRY DIVISION AND COMPANY I, 27TH INFANTRY REGIMENT (WOLFHOUNDS), 25TH INFANTRY DIVISION. AS AN INTELLIGENCE NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER (NCO), STAFF SERGEANT (E-6) IN HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, 3RD BATTALION, 27TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 25TH INFANTRY DIVISION, HE LED HIS SQUAD AND NISEI INTERPRETER ON RECONNAISSANCE MISSIONS IN THE MOUNTAINS OF JAPAN, SOUGHT JAPANESE SOLDIERS WHO HADN'T SURRENDERED, ARMS CACHES, MATERIAL DEPOTS AND POW CAMPS. WAS PART OF CADRE OF REPLACEMENT TRAINING AT CAMP 20 MILES FROM OSAKA. GAVE LAST 5 WEEKS OF TRAINING TO REPLACEMENTS ARRIVING WITH ONLY 8 WEEKS OF TRAINING. MUSTERED OUT OF SERVICE IN DECEMBER 1946.