World War II Honoree

James A. Compton

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Orleans, Indiana

Honored By

Jean Compton

Relationship

Wife

ENTERED SERVICE OCTOBER 1942. BASIC TRAINING AT FT. EUSTIS, VIRGINIA. ADDITIONAL TRAINING AT CAMP STEWART, GEORGIA. ASSIGNED TO 360TH ANTIAIRCRAFT ARTILLERY AND SEARCH LIGHT BATTALION. PARTICIPATED IN NORTH AFRICAN OPERATIONS; CASABLANCA, FEBRUARY 1943. PARTICIPATED IN INVASION OF ITALY. STATIONED IN SALERNO, NAPLES, FOGGIA, ROME AND FINALLY STOPPED AT ARNO RIVER. UNIT WAS BROKEN UP AND TRANFERRED TO 435TH ANTIAIRCRAFT BATTALION. THEN TRANSFERRED TO 532ND ANTIAIRCRAFT BATTALION, WHICH PROVIDED SEARCHLIGHT PROTECTION AT PO VALLEY. TRANSFERRED TO 473RD INFANTRY REGIMENT. PARTICIPATED IN PUSH UP THE PO VALLEY. TRANSFERRED BACK TO U.S. IN MAY 1945 FOR RECOVERY. STATIONED AT LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA. BEGAN TRAINING FOR THE SECOND INVASION OF JAPAN. IN OCTOBER, 1945, TRANSFERRED TO PATTERSON FIELD, OHIO WHERE DISCHARGED.