World War II Honoree

John Meade Finigan, Sr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

San Francisco, California

Honored By

John Jr. & David Finigan

Relationship

Sons

ENLISTED ON NOVEMBER 17, 1942 IN THE ARMY SPECIALIZED TRAINING PROGRAM WHILE ATTENDING COLLEGE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO. ACTIVATED AS A PRIVATE ON NOVEMBER 22, 1943 AT PRESIDIO OF MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA. COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AT NORTH CAMP HOOD, TEXAS AND WAS ASSIGNED TO 606TH TANK DESTROYER DIVISION APRIL 1944. HIS 3 YEARS OF ROTC INSTRUCTION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO AND 1 YEAR OF ARMY SPECIALIZED TRAINING PROGRAM EXPERIENCE SOON WON HIM PROMOTION AND ASSIGNMENT TO CAMP GRUBER, OKLAHOMA AS A SENIOR WEAPONS AND GUNNERY INSTRUCTOR. HE WAS LATER ASSIGNED TO A CADRE POSITION IN THE MEDICAL SERVICE CORPS, SOUTH CAMP HOOD, TEXAS WHERE HE ROSE TO THE RANK OF MASTER SERGEANT BEFORE JOINING THE 721ST MEDICAL EVACUATION HOSPITAL UNIT AT FORT JACKSON, SOUTH CAROLINA. HE WAS DISCHARGED FROM ACTIVE DUTY AT FORT MCPHERSON, GEORGIA ON APRIL 24, 1946. REMAINED IN THE ARMY RESERVES AS A SERGEANT MAJOR, AT THE PRESIDIO OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA UNTIL APRIL 1950.