World War II Honoree

Harold B. Colclasure

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Xenia, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENLISTED AND ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE ON OCTOBER 22, 1942 AT JEFFERSON BARRACKS, MISSOURI. COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AND QUALIFIED IN THE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY OF RADIO OPERATOR AND MECHANIC 2756. STATIONED IN THE U.S. UNTIL MARCH 2, 1945 WHEN HE DEPARTED THE U.S. BOUND FOR THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS WHERE HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 68TH TROOP CARRIER SQUADRON, 433RD TROOP CARRIER GROUP, 54TH TROOP CARRIER WING, 5TH AIR FORCE. UNIT OPERATED OUT OF CLARK FIELD, LUZON, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS DELIVERING AMMUNITION, RATIONS AND OTHER ITEMS TO FILIPINO GUERRILLA FORCES, EVACUATING PRISONERS OF WAR AND CIVILIAN INTERNEES TRANSPORTING COMBAT UNITS FROM NEW GUINEA, THE NETHERLANDS INDIES AND SOLOMON ISLANDS TO THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AND DROPPING RICE TO THE LEPER COLONY ON CEYLON ISLAND. TRANSPORTED ORGANIZATIONS OF 5TH AIR FORCE TO OKINAWA JUNE TO AUGUST 1945. HAULED OCCUPATION FORCES TO JAPAN AFTER V-J DAY OPERATING OUT OF TACHIKAWA, JAPAN AFTER SEPTEMBER 1945. EARNED THE AIR CREW MEMBER BADGE (WINGS) GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE BATTLE STARS (WESTERN PACIFIC, LUZON, SOUTHERN PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, RYUKYUS), WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A STAFF SERGEANT ON NOVEMBER 25, 1945 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, CAMP MCCOY, WISCONSIN.