World War II Honoree

Richard Jackson Newport

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Flint, Michigan

Honored By

Margaret Newport

Relationship

Wife

ENTERED SERVICE ON JULY 31, 1942 AT DETROIT, MICHIGAN. BASIC TRAINING IN CALIFORNIA, FROM WHICH HE WAS SENT DIRECTLY TO CHURCHILL, MANITOBA. ASSIGNED AS CLERK IN HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, HEADQUARTERS, CORPS OF ENGINEERS. THIS ORGANIZATION CONSTRUCTED RUNWAYS FOR INTERCEPTOR AIRCRAFT IN DEFENSE FROM POSSIBLE ATTACKS FROM OVER POLAR ROUTES. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO RIDE THE TRAINS FROM CHURCHILL TO WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA AS MILITARY POLICE. THE ROUND TRIP WAS ABOUT 5 DAYS, WITH A REST BETWEEN SOUTHBOUND AND NORTHBOUND JOURNEYS. AFTER DECEMBER 1942, HE WAS REASSIGNED TO THE PROVOST MARSHAL'S OFFICE OF THE MILITARY POLICE IN WINNIPEG. THIS ASSIGNMENT LASTED UNTIL HE RETURNED TO THE U.S. WHERE HE RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE OCTOBER 9, 1945 AT FORT SHERIDAN, ILLINOIS WITH RANK OF STAFF SERGEANT. AWARDED AMERICAN CAMPAIGN RIBBON, ONE SERVICE STRIPE, FIVE OVERSEAS SERVICE BARS, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL.