World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Elton Laverne Philo
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Mount Pleasant, Michigan
Honored By
Wilbert C. Fletke
ENTERED SERVICE ON FEBRUARY 17, 1943 AT FORT CUSTER, MICHIGAN. ASSIGNED TO FUEL SUPPLY BATTALION FOR BASIC TRAINING AT CAMP BARKELEY, TEXAS. QUALIFIED AS SHARPSHOOTER WITH M1 RIFLE AND CARBINE. THE BATTALION WAS MOVED FOR MANEUVERS TO SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA AND ATTACHED TO AN ARMORED DIVISION TO SUPPLY IT WITH FUEL. QUALIFIED TO ATTEND A 3 MONTH ARMY SPECIAL TRAINING PROGRAM AT BRADLEY TECH, PEORIA, ILLINOIS. TRAINED PORT BATTALION TROOPS AT FORT DEVLIN, MASSACHUSETTS FOR 6 MONTHS IN THE PROPER HANDLING OF PERISHABLE ITEMS FOR SHIPPING AND RECEIVING AT VARIOUS PORTS. NEXT SENT TO FORT LEWIS, WASHINGTON IN THE MEDICS FOR 6 MONTHS AND THEN TO CAMP HOWZE, TEXAS FOR ADVANCED INFANTRY TRAINING. HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO FORT SAM HOUSTON, TEXAS THEN CAMP SWIFT, TEXAS FOR ASSIGNMENT TO 4173RD QUARTERMASTER DEPOT BATTALION. UNIT ARRIVED PHILIPPINE ISLANDS JANUARY 1945 TO LOAD AND SHIP SUPPLIES TO STAGING AREAS FOR POSSIBLE INVASION OF JAPAN. HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO ARMED FORCES WEST PACIFIC HEADQUARTERS IN A FIELD SERVICE TEAM THAT INSPECTED ALL QUARTERMASTER DEPOTS. DEPARTED LEYTE, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS FOR U.S. AND WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED MARCH 14,1946 AT FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN WITH THE RANK OF TECHNICIAN 4TH GRADE.