World War II Honoree

Joe Ellingwood Morrow

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Collinsville, Oklahoma

Honored By

OAMC, ROTC Fire Station Gang

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 UNTIL 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. TOOK INFANTRY BASIC TRAINING AT CAMP ROBERTS AT SAN MIGUEL, CALIFORNIA, WAS PROMOTED TO PRIVATE FIRST CLASS, AND SENT TO THE ARMY SPECIALIZED TRAINING PROGRAM AT OKLAHOMA A&M COLLEGE FOR 8 MONTHS WHILE WAITING TO ATTEND OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL. ASSIGNED TO OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL AT FORT BENNING, AT COLUMBUS, GEORGIA. HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON AUGUST 28, 1944 TO ACCEPT AN APPOINTMENT AS AN OFFICER. GRADUATED AND WAS COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT OF INFANTRY ON AUGUST 29, 1944. STAGED AT CAMP SHANKS AT ORANGEBURG, NEW YORK IN LATE DECEMBER 1944 AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED WITH HIS REGIMENT FROM NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION ON JANUARY 10, 1945 AND ARRIVED AT LE HAVRE, FRANCE ON JANUARY 21, 1945. SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH THE 65TH INFANTRY 'BATTLE AXE' DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, SILVER STAR, BRONZE STAR MEDAL WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER, PURPLE HEART WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF FIRST LIEUTENANT AT FORT SAM HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS ON SEPTEMBER 5, 1946. ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.