World War II Honoree

Laura Jean Moody

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Honored By

Patti Ann Galvin

Relationship

Friend

SERGEANT. SERVED IN U.S. ARMY FROM SEPTEMBER 16, 1942 TO NOVEMBER 26, 1945. INDUCTED IN OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA AND SENT BY RAIL TO FORT DES MOINES, IOWA. COMPLETED WOMEN'S ARMY AUXILIARY CORPS BASIC TRAINING AND THEN MOTOR TRANSPORT SCHOOL. TRANSPORTED TO KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI. COMPLETED RADIO SCHOOL AND PROMOTED TO CORPORAL. ASSIGNED TO LACKLAND ARMY AIR BASE IN WACO, TEXAS AS CONTROL TOWER OPERATOR IN ARMY AIR FORCE PILOT TRAINING SCHOOL, RESPONSIBLE FOR GIVING PILOTS TAXI, TAKE OFF, AND LANDING INSTRUCTIONS AS WELL AS INFORMATION ON SURFACE WINDS. PROMOTED TO SERGEANT AND SENT TO FORT OGLETHORPE, GEORGIA FOR FIELD SERVICE TRAINING PRIOR TO BEING SHIPPED OVERSEAS. ASSIGNED TO PACIFIC THEATER AND ATTACHED TO FAR EAST AIR FORCE 1716TH SIGNAL SERVICE COMPANY. SERVED IN HOLLANDIA, NEW GUINEA AFTER U.S. FORCES CAPTURED JAPANESE-HELD ISLAND. PERFORMED COMBAT SUPPORT DUTIES TO HELP SUPPLY TROOPS ON LEYTE ISLAND AND LINGAYEN GULF IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. SUBSEQUENTLY ASSIGNED COMBAT SUPPORT DUTIES AT PORT OF TACLOBAN ON LEYTE ISLAND AND THEN AT MANILA, PHILIPPINES. JAPANESE SURRENDERED IN SEPTEMBER 1945 AND WAR ENDED. RETURNED TO U.S. AND DISCHARGED FROM ACTIVE DUTY AT FORT SAM HOUSTON IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. AWARDED ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BATTLE STARS (BATTLES OF NEW GUINEA, SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES AND LUZON) AMERICAN THEATRE CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON WITH BRONZE STAR, ARMY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AND WOMEN'S ARMY AUXILIARY CORPS (WAAC) SERVICE RIBBON.