World War II Honoree

Harold L. Stanford

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Flora, Illinois

Honored By

Sara Stanford

Relationship

Wife

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON SEPTEMBER 26, 1941 AT CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AND ORIGINALLY QUALIFIED IN THE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY OF CHAUFFEUR (344), SERVING AS SUCH. UPON PROMOTION TO PRIVATE FIRST CLASS AFTER 18 MONTHS, RE-TRAINED AND QUALIFIED AS A LIGHT MORTAR CREWMAN (607), EVENTUALLY BECOMING A SQUAD LEADER IN COMPANY M, 17TH ‘BUFFALO’ INFANTRY REGIMENT. DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. ON APRIL 24, 1943 WITH HIS UNIT BOUND FOR THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FIRST OF THREE AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT LANDINGS. THE OTHER TWO OCCURRED IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS WHILE FIGHTING IN THE EASTERN MANDATES, SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES, AND RYUKYUS CAMPAIGNS. EARNED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE BATTLE STARS AND 3 BRONZE ARROWHEADS (ASSAULT LANDINGS), WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND THE PHILIPPINES LIBERATION MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE BATTLE STARS. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A STAFF SERGEANT ON OCTOBER 27, 1945 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, CAMP MCCOY, WISCONSIN.