World War II Honoree

Beryle S. Pittman

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Flora, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON JANUARY 22, 1941 AT EAST SAINT LOUIS, ILLINOIS. AFTER BASIC TRAINING, QUALIFIED IN THE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY OF SCOUT (761) AND ASSIGNED TO HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, 164TH INFANTRY REGIMENT. DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. WITH HIS UNIT ON 8 MARCH, 1942 BOUND FOR MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, AND THENCE TO NEW CALEDONIA, WHERE THE 164TH WAS INCORPORATED INTO THE NEWLY FORMED AMERICAL DIVISION. THE 164TH WAS THE FIRST U.S. ARMY UNIT TO LAND ON GUADALCANAL AND REINFORCE THE 1ST MARINE DIVISION, WITH WHOM THEY FOUGHT THE BATTLES OF HENDERSON FIELD AND MATANIKAU, EARNING THE NICKNAME ‘THE 164TH MARINES’, AND THE NAVY PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION. HE WAS WOUNDED IN ACTION AT GUADALCANAL ON NOVEMBER 23, 1942 BUT REMAINED IN COMBAT THROUGH THE NORTHERN SOLOMON ISLANDS AND SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES CAMPAIGNS. EARNED THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL, THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, THE NAVY PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, THE AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH THREE BRONZE BATTLE STARS, THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL WITH ONE BRONZE BATTLE STAR. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ON JULY 6, 1945 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, FORT SHERIDAN, ILLINOIS.