World War II Honoree

Wilber A. Gerken

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Perry, Oklahoma

Honored By

Leota Gerken

Relationship

Wife

SERVED AS TECHNICIAN 5TH CLASS IN COMPANY A OF THE 184TH INFANTRY DIVISION. THE UNIT SAW ACTION AT KWAJALEIN ATOLL IN THE EASTERN MANDATES OF THE MICRONESIA CHAIN, THEN ADVANCED FROM THAT BATTLE TO THE BATTLE OF LEYTE GULF IN THE PHILIPPINES, FOUGHT THEIR WAY ACROSS LUZON AND UP TO ORMAC ON THE WESTERN SIDE UNTIL THE JAPANESE SURRENDERED. ON APRIL 1, 1945, THEY TOOK PART IN THE ASSAULT ON OKINAWA WHERE THEY BATTLED UNTIL THE JAPANESE SURRENDERED. THE UNIT WAS AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL CITATION, THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL, THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC MEDAL WITH 3 BATTLE STARS AND 3 ARROWHEADS. EARNED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, THE RIFLE, PISTOL AND BAR BADGES, THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AFTER MORE THAN 4 YEARS OF SERVICE.