World War II Honoree

John F. Cox

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Ingraham, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON MARCH 25, 1942 AT EAST SAINT LOUIS, ILLINOIS. SELECTED FOR THE COAST ARTILLERY CORPS, COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING, ASSIGNED TO THE 214TH ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY GUN BATTALION AND EVENTUALLY QUALIFIED IN THE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY OF HEAVY MACHINE GUN SERGEANT (605). DEPARTED THE U.S. ON APRIL 29, 1943 BOUND FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. FOUGHT IN THE SICILY, NAPLES-FOGGIA, ROME-ARNO, SOUTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. EARNED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH SILVER BATTLE STAR AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A SERGEANT ON OCTOBER 16, 1945 AT CAMP MCCOY, WISCONSIN.