World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Loyd Leon Prickett
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Dill City, Oklahoma
Honored By
OAMC, ROTC Class of 1943
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 AS A PRIVATE IN THE ENLISTED RESERVE CORPS WITH THE 1875TH SERVICE UNIT FROM JULY 1942 TO APRIL 5, 1943. INDUCTED AND CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY ON APRIL 6, 1943. REPORTED TO THE RECEPTION CENTER AT FORT SILL AT LAWTON, OKLAHOMA ON APRIL 12, 1943. ASSIGNED TO OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL AT FORT BENNING AT COLUMBUS, GEORGIA FROM JUNE 24TH TO SEPTEMBER 18, 1943. HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON SEPTEMBER 17, 1943 WITH THE RANK OF CORPORAL TO ACCEPT AN APPOINTMENT AS AN OFFICER. GRADUATED AND COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT IN THE INFANTRY ON SEPTEMBER 18, 1943. SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER WITH THE 21ST INFANTRY REGIMENT, 24TH INFANTRY 'VICTORY' DIVISION. MADE AN AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT LANDING AT TANAHMERA BAY IN NEW GUINEA ON APRIL 22, 1944 AND DESPITE TORRENTIAL RAINS AND MARSHY TERRAIN, HIS UNIT OVERRAN THE HOLLANDIA AIRDROME. ASSAULTED LEYTE IN THE PANOAN STRAIGHT AREA IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS ON OCTOBER 20, 1944. ASSAULTED BREAKNECK RIDGE WEST OF PINAMOPOAN ON NOVEMBER 8, 1944 DESPITE A RAGING TYPHOON, AND GAINED ITS CREST ON NOVEMBER 12, 1944. FOUGHT AT MINDORO AS PART OF THE WESTERN VISAYAN TASK FORCE ON DECEMBER 30, 1944. TOOK PART IN COMPANY-LEVEL ASSAULTS ON MARINDUQUE ISLAND ON JANUARY 3, 1945 AND THEN RETURNED TO MINDORO. ASSAULTED LUBANG ISLAND ON FEBRUARY 24, 1945. LANDED AT BARAS ON MINDANAO ON APRIL 17, 1945, MADE AN AMPHIBIOUS DRIVE UP THE MINDANAO RIVER, AND ATTACKED ALONG THE TALAMO RIVER ON MAY 12, 1945. WOUNDED IN ACTION ON MINDANAO AND DIED OF WOUNDS ON MAY 21, 1945. PARTICIPATED IN THE NEW GUINEA, LEYTE, LUZON AND SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES CAMPAIGNS. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, PURPLE HEART, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE SERVICE STARS AND 2 BRONZE ARROWHEADS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL AND PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION.