World War II Honoree

Wayne K. Yenni

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Kendrick, Idaho

Honored By

Wayne K. Yenni

Wayne was called to active duty and reported to Fort Ord, California. on November 16, 1941. For the next year and one half, he trained in the desert under the command of George S. Patton. General Patton was preparing his troops to fight in Africa (Wayne thought he would be going there). The 7th Division pulled out of the training early and was sent to the Aleutian command for Pacific duty. In March of 1943, they went to the Aleutian Island chain; then the Marshall Islands (Kwajalein); and the Philippine Islands (Leyte). On April 1, 1945 the last battle began in Okinawa and the Ryukyus Islands was invaded. When the war was over, he went to South Korea. Wayne returned home to the states on Thanksgiving Day, 1945. He had several months of leave built up and 'did nothing' for four months. On March 26, 1946, he left the service and returned to Idaho.