World War II Honoree

John J. Cochran

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Hamilton, Missouri

Honored By

Lawrence L. Schuermann

Relationship

Friend

JOINED THE ARMY PRIOR TO AMERICA'S ENTRY INTO THE WAR. AFTER PEARL HARBOR HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 140TH INFANTRY REGIMENT AND THE WESTERN DEFENSE COMMAND. EARLY IN 1942 HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATION. HE JOINED THE NEWLY FORMED AMERICAL INFANTRY DIVISION (23RD INFANTRY DIVISION) ON NEW CALEDONIA. HE WAS FURTHER ASSIGNED TO THE HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 164TH INFANTRY REGIMENT AND SAW HIS FIRST ACTION ON GUADALCANAL STARTING ON 25 OCTOBER 1942. SPENT TIME IN THE FIJI ISLANDS AND FOUGHT ON BOUGAINVILLE ISLAND (NORTH SOLOMON ISLANDS CAMPAIGN) STARTING IN DECEMBER, 1943. AFTER ALMOST A YEAR ON BOUGAINVILLE WAS TRANSFERRED TO WESTERN LEYTE IN EARLY 1945 AND PERFORMED 'MOPUP' OPERATIONS WITH THE 8TH ARMY. BY MARCH, 1945, HE WAS FIGHTING ON VARIOUS ISLANDS (CEBU AND NEGROS) OF THE SOUTHERN PHILIPPINE ISLANDS CAMPAIGN. AWARDS INCLUDE: COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL BY POST-WAR CONGRESSIONAL ACTION, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE MEDAL WITH ONE BRONZE CAMPAIGN STAR, ASIATIC-PACIFIC MEDAL WITH FOUR BRONZE CAMPAIGN STARS AND ONE BRONZE ARROWHEAD, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL WITH ONE BRONZE CAMPAIGN STAR, ARMY OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH JAPAN BAR, PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, AND THE NAVY PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION WITH ONE BLUE STAR FOR GUADALCANAL ACTION.