World War II Honoree

Jack Allured

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Idaho

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

INDUCTED WITH THE 148TH FIELD ARTILLERY REGIMENT, IDAHO NATIONAL GUARD AT COEUR D’ ALENE, IDAHO ON SEPTEMBER 16, 1940. TRANSFERRED TO CAMP MURRAY, WASHINGTON ON SEPTEMBER 24, 1940. ARRIVED AT FORT LEWIS AT TACOMA, WASHINGTON ON MARCH 20, 1941. DEPARTED THE SAN FRANCISCO PORT OF EMBARKATION ON NOVEMBER 21, 1941 ABOARD THE TRANSPORT ‘WILLARD A. HOLBROOK’ EN ROUTE MANILA IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS TO REINFORCE GENERAL MACARTHUR’S GARRISONS. HIS GROUP OF SHIPS CALLED THE ‘PENSACOLA CONVOY’ ARRIVED AT PEARL HARBOR IN THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS ON NOVEMBER 27, 1941. THREE DAYS LATER THE CONVOY DEPARTED FOR THE PHILIPPINES. ON DECEMBER 7, 1941 WHILE AT SEA, WORD CAME THAT THE JAPANESE HAD ATTACKED PEARL HARBOR. BECAUSE OF THE WAR SITUATION, HIS SHIP WAS DIVERTED TO BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA AND ARRIVED THERE ON DECEMBER 22, 1941. SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER. WAS PART OF THE FIRST AMERICAN CONTINGENT TO LAND IN AUSTRALIA DURING THE WAR. ON DECEMBER 28, 1941 DEPARTED BRISBANE BOUND FOR MANILA BUT WAS DIVERTED TO DARWIN, AUSTRALIA BECAUSE OF ENEMY SEA AND AIR THREATS AND ARRIVED THERE ON JANUARY 6, 1942. DEPARTED DARWIN ON FEBRUARY 14, 1942 TO REINFORCE DUTCH AND AUSTRALIAN TROOPS ON THE INDONESIAN ISLAND OF TIMOR. WHILE CROSSING THE 400 MILES OF OCEAN WITHOUT AIR ESCORT, CAME UNDER INTENSE AIR ATTACK BY ENEMY BOMBERS AND WERE FORCED TO RETURN TO DARWIN ON FEBRUARY 18, 1942. THE FOLLOWING MORNING, WHILE HIS SHIP WAS ANCHORED IN THE HARBOR, WAS SUBJECTED TO MASSIVE WAVES OF ATTACKING JAPANESE BOMBERS AND FIGHTERS. HIS SHIP WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED AND THE ORDER TO ABANDON SHIP WAS GIVEN. HE WENT OVERBOARD AND MADE HIS WAY TO SHORE TO FIGHT AGAIN ANOTHER DAY. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.