World War II Honoree

Sam Bert Aubrey

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Honored By

Dorothy Quirk Aubrey

Relationship

Wife

SERVED IN THE ARMY RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS AT OKLAHOMA A&M COLLEGE AT STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA FROM SEPTEMBER 1940 TO APRIL 5, 1943. SIMULTANEOUSLY SERVED IN THE ENLISTED RESERVE CORPS FROM JULY 2, 1942 TO APRIL 5, 1943. INDUCTED AND REPORTED TO ACTIVE DUTY ON APRIL 6, 1943 AT FORT SILL, LAWTON, OKLAHOMA. SERVED AS A CORPORAL UNTIL SEPTEMBER 17, 1943 WHEN HONORABLY DISCHARGED TO ACCEPT AN APPOINTMENT AS AN OFFICER. ASSIGNED TO OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL AT FORT BENNING, COLUMBUS, GEORGIA. GRADUATED AND WAS COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT OF INFANTRY ON SEPTEMBER 18, 1943. SERVED 6 ½ MONTHS IN THE AMERICAN THEATER STATIONED AT CAMP WHEELER, MACON, GEORGIA WITH THE INFANTRY REPLACEMENT TRAINING CENTER, AND AT CAMP RUCKER, OZARK, ALABAMA WITH THE 35TH INFANTRY 'SANTA FE' DIVISION BEGINNING OCTOBER 5, 1943. PARTICIPATED WITH THE 35TH DIVISION IN THE TENNESSEE MANEUVERS AND LATER MOVED TO CAMP BUCKNER, DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA TO TAKE PART IN THE WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAIN TRAINING MANEUVERS. STAGED FROM FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND BEFORE SAILING OVERSEAS AS AN INDIVIDUAL REPLACEMENT ON MARCH 9, 1944. ARRIVED IN NORTH AFRICA ON MARCH 18, 1944 AND PASSED THROUGH A REPLACEMENT DEPOT THERE EN ROUTE TO THE CASERTA, ITALY REPLACEMENT DEPOT WHERE ASSIGNED TO THE 91ST INFANTRY 'POWDER RIVER' DIVISION. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER AS A PLATOON LEADER WITH COMPANY C, 361ST INFANTRY REGIMENT. PARTICIPATED IN THE ROME-ARNO AND NORTH APENNINES CAMPAIGNS IN ITALY. TOOK PART IN THE ASSAULT ON THE GOTHIC LINE BEGINNING ON SEPTEMBER 12, 1944 AND LED HIS PLATOON IN THE BATTLE FOR MONTICELLI, ITALY. WHILE ADVANCING THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF SEPTEMBER 17, 1944, HIS PLATOON WAS ATTACKED AND HE WAS WOUNDED IN THE HIP. HE WAS STABILIZED, THEN EVACUATED TO A FIELD HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT, AND THEN PLACED IN THE 6TH GENERAL HOSPITAL IN ROME, ITALY FOR SURGERY AND TO AWAIT TRANSPORTATION TO THE U.S. RETURNED ABOARD A HOSPITAL SHIP AND THEN SPENT THE MAJORITY OF HIS CONVALESCING AT BROOKE GENERAL HOSPITAL, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, SILVER STAR FOR GALLANTRY IN ACTION DURING THE SEPTEMBER 17TH ENGAGEMENT, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF FIRST LIEUTENANT FROM THE SEPARATION CENTER, FORT SAM HOUSTON, TEXAS IN SEPTEMBER 1945. ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.