World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
John R. Coil
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Flora, Illinois
Honored By
Robert Medley Gatewood
ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON 16 SEPTEMBER 1942 AT CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. TRAINED AS A RADIO OPERATOR (SLOW SPEED, 776). DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. ON 5 JULY 1943 BOUND FOR THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. SERVED WITH CANNON COMPANY, 106TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 27TH INFANTRY (NEW YORK) DIVISION THROUGH THE EASTERN MANDATES, WESTERN PACIFIC AND RYUKYUS CAMPAIGNS. WOUNDED IN ACTION ON 26 APRIL 1945 ON OKINAWA ISLAND. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL, THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE BATTLE STARS AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLE DISCHARGE WITH A CERTIFICATE OF DISABILITY AS A TECHNICIAN 4TH GRADE ON 12 APRIL 1946 AT O'REILLY GENERAL HOSPITAL IN SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI.