World War II Honoree

James 'Jim' Orahood

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Chickasha, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

WORKED AT TINKER FIELD AT OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA BEFORE ENTERING MILITARY SERVICE. SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER WITH THE 182ND INFANTRY REGIMENT, AMERICAL DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE LEYTE AND SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES CAMPAIGNS. LANDED AT LEYTE, IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS ON JANUARY 28, 1945 AND ASSAULTED CEBU ISLAND IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS ON MARCH 26, 1945. ON CEBU, FOUGHT THE BATTLE OF GO CHAN HILL FROM MARCH 28-29, 1945. THEN BATTLED TO CLEAR OTHER ADJACENT HILLS AND FOUGHT OFF A HEAVY COUNTERATTACK ON BOLO RIDGE ON APRIL 1, 1945. HIS REGIMENT WAS ON CEBU ENGAGED IN TRAINING FOR THE INVASION OF JAPAN WHEN THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT SURRENDERED UNCONDITIONALLY ON AUGUST 14, 1945. HIS REGIMENT ARRIVED IN YOKOHAMA HARBOR, JAPAN FOR OCCUPATION DUTY ON SEPTEMBER 8, 1945. STATIONED IN YOKOHAMA AND TOKYO ENGAGED IN SECURITY OPERATIONS AND GUARDING THE EMBASSY AND ARMY HEADQUARTERS. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE ARROWHEAD AND 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH 'JAPAN' CLASP, AND PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR SERVICE BY HIS REGIMENT IN THE WAR AGAINST JAPAN DURING THE PERIOD OCTOBER 17, 1944 TO JULY 4, 1945. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN DECEMBER 1946 AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.