World War II Honoree

Roy G. Yates

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Rinard, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

A GRADUATE OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY AND 3 MONTHS SHY OF BEING INELIGIBLE (AT THE TIME) FOR THE DRAFT AT 30 YEARS OF AGE. HE WAS INDUCTED AND ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE ON MAY 13, 1941. COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AT FORT SHERIDAN, ILLINOIS AND TRANSFERRED TO CAMP DAVIS, NORTH CAROLINA WHERE HE TRAINED IN ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY OPERATIONS WITH BATTERY C, 3RD BATTALION, 95TH COAST ARTILLERY, WAS DISCHARGED AS A PRIVATE ON NOVEMBER 13, 1941 AND PLACED IN THE ARMY RESERVE. AFTER PEARL HARBOR HE WAS RECALLED AND THEN ENLISTED IN THE REGULAR ARMY INFANTRY ON FEBRUARY 7, 1942 AT FORT SHERIDAN. RETRAINED AND QUALIFIED IN THE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY OF AUTOMOTIVE MECHANIC (014). SERVED WITH U.S. UNITS UNTIL HE DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. ON APRIL 3, 1945 BOUND FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS AS A PLATOON-SIZED, SHIPBOARD, TROOP COMMANDER FOR THE DURATION OF THE VOYAGE. OVERSEAS DUTIES INCLUDED SUPERVISION OF A 30-MAN VEHICLE MAINTENANCE UNIT INVOLVED WITH LOGISTICS AND SUPPLY TO OPERATIONAL UNITS IN ENGLAND, FRANCE, GERMANY AND AUSTRIA. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A CORPORAL ON DECEMBER 11, 1945 AT CAMP JOSEPH T. ROBINSON, ARKANSAS. EARNED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.