World War II Honoree

George W. Ernfield

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Myerstown, Pennsylvania

Honored By

SMSgt (Ret) Carl D. Peterson, 215th Engineering Installation Squadron

Relationship

Alumni Association Historian

PRIVATE, UNITED STATES ARMY AIR FORCES (USAAF). IN APRIL 1943 HE WAS ASSIGNED AS A TELEPHONE SWITCHBOARD OPERATOR WITH THE 1094TH SIGNAL COMPANY SERVICE GROUP (AVIATION). TRAINED WITH THE COMPANY AT DISPERSED SERVICE GROUP TRAINING STATION (DSGTS) WOODWARD, OKLAHOMA AND CAMP HATHAWAY, VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON. THE COMPANY EMBARKED FOR SERVICE OVERSEAS FROM PORTLAND, OREGON IN NOVEMBER 1943. WHILE OVERSEAS, HE SERVED WITH COMPANY AT MILNE BAY, FINSCHHAFEN, AITAPE AND WAKDE ISLAND NEW GUINEA. IN LATE NOVEMBER 1944 THE COMPANY RELOCATED TO BURI AIRSTRIP, LEYTE ISLAND, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. HE, ALONG WITH THIRTEEN OTHER MEN FROM THE 1094TH SIGNAL COMPANY, LOST THEIR LIVES IN AN EARLY MORNING SURPRISE ATTACK BY THE 16TH DIVISION OF THE IMPERIAL JAPANESE ARMY ON DECEMBER 6, 1944. HE WAS AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART AND IS BURIED WITH FOUR OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMPANY AT MANILA AMERICAN CEMETERY, FORT BONIFACIO, MANILA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.