World War II Honoree

Howard Carroll Bayler

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Clay City, Illinois

Honored By

John Craig Bayler

Relationship

Son

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON OCTOBER 16, 1941 AT PEORIA, ILLINOIS. COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AND DEPARTED THE U.S. FOR THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. SERVED THERE AS A DRIVER IN THE EAST INDIES AND GUADALCANAL CAMPAIGNS UNTIL ACCEPTED FOR THE FIELD ARTILLERY OFFICER CANDIDATE COURSE 93 AT FORT SILL, OKLAHOMA. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A CORPORAL ON DECEMBER 29, 1943 TO ACCEPT A COMMISSION AS SECOND LIEUTENANT AND ACTIVE DUTY THE NEXT DAY. ATTENDED THE OFFICER SURVEY COURSE AND QUALIFIED IN THE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY OF RECONNAISSANCE OFFICER (9312). DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. AGAIN ON NOVEMBER 30, 1944 BOUND FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. ASSIGNED TO AND FOUGHT WITH BATTERY A, 259TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION (A XIX CORPS NON-DIVISIONAL UNIT EQUIPPED WITH 4.5 INCH GUNS), THROUGH THE RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. EARNED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE BATTLE STARS, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE BATTLE STARS AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY SEPARATED FROM ACTIVE SERVICE AS A FIRST LIEUTENANT ON JANUARY 22, 1946 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, JEFFERSON BARRACKS, MISSOURI.