World War II Honoree

Scottie Eldon Ooton

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Louisville, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON 18 JANUARY, 1943 AT FORT CUSTER, MICHIGAN. COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING, QUALIFIED FOR THE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY OF HEAVY MORTAR CREWMAN (1607), PARTICIPATED IN THE ARMY SPECIALIZED TRAINING SCHOOL PROGRAM (ENGINEERING) AT LEHIGH UNIVERSITY, BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, AND WAS ASSIGNED TO H COMPANY, 333RD INFANTRY REGIMENT, 84TH INFANTRY 'RAILSPLITTERS' DIVISION. DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. WITH HIS UNIT ON SEPTEMBER 20, 1944 BOUND FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. CROSSED THE CHANNEL TO THE CONTINENT VIA OMAHA BEACH AND ENTERED COMBAT IN EARLY NOVEMBER. FOUGHT THROUGH THE ARDENNES, RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. EARNED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE BATTLE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND THE ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL (GERMANY). WITH A HIGH ADJUSTED SERVICE RATING, POINT SYSTEM SCORE OF 83 (12 EACH FROM TWIN DAUGHTERS), ADMINISTRATIVELY ASSIGNED TO THE 553RD ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY AUTOMATIC WEAPONS BATTALION TO EXPEDITE DEPARTURE TO THE U.S. ON OCTOBER 29, 1945. HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM THE INFANTRY AS A CORPORAL ON NOVEMBER 4, 1945 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, FORT SHERIDAN, ILLINOIS.