World War II Honoree

James Frank Gilreath, Sr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Travelers Rest, South Carolina

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED FOR 4 YEARS. STAGED WITH HIS UNIT AT CAMP STONEMAN AT PITTSBURG, CALIFORNIA ON JUNE 24, 1943 AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED FROM THE SAN FRANCISCO PORT OF EMBARKATION ON JULY 7, 1943 AND ARRIVED IN HAWAII ON JULY 14, 1943. SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER INCLUDING AS COMPANY COMMANDER OF COMPANY F, WITH THE 123RD INFANTRY REGIMENT, 33RD INFANTRY 'PRAIRIE' DIVISION. TOOK PART IN THE DEFENSE OF THE OUTER HAWAIIAN ISLANDS BEGINNING JULY 18, 1943 AND ENGAGED IN JUNGLE WARFARE TRAINING. SAILED FROM HAWAII ON APRIL 26, 1944 AND ARRIVED AT FINSCHHAFEN , NEW GUINEA ON MAY 11, 1944. ENGAGED IN JUNGLE WARFARE AND AMPHIBIOUS TRAINING. HIS REGIMENT WAS DETACHED FOR DUTY AT MAFFIN BAY, NEW GUINEA ON SEPTEMBER 1, 1944. IT WAS ATTACHED TO THE TORNADO TASK FORCE FROM SEPTEMBER 1-25, 1944 AND PATROLLED THE WAKDE AIRFIELD AND TOEM-SARMI SECTOR UNTIL SEPTEMBER 25, 1944. DEPARTED TOEM, NEW GUINEA ON JANUARY 26, 1945 AND LANDED ON LUZON IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS ON FEBRUARY 10, 1945. HIS REGIMENT WAS ATTACHED TO THE 43RD INFANTRY 'WINGED VICTORY' DIVISION FROM FEBRUARY 13-15, 1945; THEN BEGAN A DRIVE INTO THE CARABALLO MOUNTAINS TOWARD BAGUIO. HIS UNIT PUSHED UP THE PUGA-TUBA TRAIL AND ARRIVED IN TUBA ON APRIL 25, 1945. THE BATTLE FOR BAGUIO ENDED ON APRIL 27, 1944 WHEN THE CITY WAS OVERRUN. HIS DIVISION WAS ENGAGED IN AMPHIBIOUS TRAINING IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS WHEN THE WAR ENDED. HE ARRIVED IN JAPAN TO SERVE WITH OCCUPATION FORCES AFTER THE WAR ON SEPTEMBER 26, 1945. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF CAPTAIN AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.