World War II Honoree

Lester C. Cockrum

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Clarence, Missouri

Honored By

Juanita Cockrum

Relationship

Wife

ENLISTED APRIL 30, 1941. INDUCTED AT JEFFERSON BARRACKS IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI; THEN SENT TO CAMP CLAIBOURNE, LOUISIANA WHERE HE TRAINED WITH THE 133RD INFANTRY, COMPANY A. FURTHER TRAINING AT FORT BENNING, GEORGIA AND FORT DIX, NEW JERSEY. WENT ON TO BELFAST, IRELAND JANUARY 12, 1942. SERVED IN LONDONDERRY, IRELAND AND GLASGOW, SCOTLAND; LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND AND ORAN, AFRICA. IN SCOTLAND, HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE 168TH INFANTRY. BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS: ALGERIA, FRENCH MOROCCO, TUNISIA. SERVED WITH THE 1ST SPECIAL SERVICE FORCE IN NAPLES-FOGGIA, ROME-ARNO. AWARDED SILVER STAR, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, COMBAT RIFLEMAN BADGE, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE. AWARDED THE CANADIAN PARACHUTE WINGS WITH SILVER MAPLE LEAF. DISCHARGED JULY 1, 1945 AT CAMP ROBERTS, CALIFORNIA.