World War II Honoree

Norton E. Fincher

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Fairfax, 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, FORT SILL, AT LAWTON, OKLAHOMA ON APRIL 12, 1943. ASSIGNED TO OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL AT FORT MONMOUTH, AT RED BANK, NEW JERSEY DURING THE PERIOD JUNE TO SEPTEMBER 1943. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN SEPTEMBER 1943 WITH THE RANK OF CORPORAL TO ACCEPT AN APPOINTMENT AS AN OFFICER. GRADUATED AND COMMISSIONED A 2ND LIEUTENANT IN THE SIGNAL CORPS IN SEPTEMBER 1943. SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER AS DIVISION CONSTRUCTION OFFICER WITH THE 37TH INFANTRY 'BUCKEYE' DIVISION. LANDED AT LINGAYEN GULF ON LUZON, IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS ON JANUARY 9, 1945. ADVANCED WITH THE DIVISION AGAINST STRONG JAPANESE OPPOSITION TOWARD CLARK FIELD AND FORT STOTSENBERG. MOVED INTO MANILA IN FEBRUARY 1945 AND SECURED IT LATE IN MARCH. MOVED TO NORTHWEST LUZON AGAINST BAGUIO AND AFTER SEIZING IT IN LATE APRIL 1945, CONTINUED COMBAT OPERATIONS IN LUZON UNTIL THE WAR ENDED. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE SERVICE STAR, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL. PARTICIPATED IN THE LUZON CAMPAIGN. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF 1ST LIEUTENANT AT SEPARATION CENTER, FORT SAM HOUSTON, TEXAS IN SEPTEMBER 1946. ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.