World War II Honoree

Jerry Fearnow

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Honored By

William E. Shaklee

Relationship

Friend

ON FEBRUARY 1, 1943, HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE U.S. ARMY AND ORDERED TO PROCEED TO FORT SILL, OKLAHOMA. HE WAS DESIGNATED TO DELIVER TRAINEES TO THE COMMANDING OFFICER AT THE RECEPTION CENTER. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO COMPANY C, 146TH ENGINEERING COMBAT BATTALION AT CAMP SWIFT, TEXAS, FOR COMBAT TRAINING. HE EARNED THE RANK OF PRIVATE FIRST CLASS AND CORPORAL WHILE IN TRAINING. AFTER COMPLETING TRAINING HE WAS SENT ON CADRE TO TRAIN NEW RECRUITS AT CAMP GRUBER, OKLAHOMA. HE SOON BECAME A SERGEANT AND LATER A PLATOON STAFF SERGEANT TO TRAIN MEN OF THE 2ND PLATOON OF COMPANY C, 178TH ENGINEERING COMBAT BATTALION. AFTER TRAINING, HE HEADED FOR EUROPE ARRIVING ON THE FRENCH SHORE TWO WEEKS AFTER THE INITIAL INVASION. HIS FIRST ASSIGNMENT WAS TO CLEAR A BIVOUAC AREA OF POSSIBLE MINES. OTHER ACTIVITIES INCLUDED BUILDING WOODEN BRIDGES, ROAD REPAIR, CLEARING MINE FIELDS, USING DEMOLITIONS, AND ASSEMBLING BAILEY AND PONTOON TYPE BRIDGES. HE WAS ATTACHED TO THE 1ST AND 3RD ARMIES AS NEEDED, MOVING UP AND DOWN THE FRONT LINE. DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE, THEY WERE ASSIGNED TO DIG INFANTRY FOXHOLES. SHORTLY AFTER V-E DAY, HIS BATTALION WAS ORDERED TO MOVE BACK TO THE WEST COAST. HE WAS THEN DECLARED SURPLUS AND DISCHARGED ON POINTS. HE WAS SENT TO CAMP CHAFFEE SEPARATION CENTER IN ARKANSAS, WHERE HE WAS DISCHARGED JANUARY 10, 1946. DECORATIONS AND MEDALS RECEIVED WERE THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN THEATER MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER MEDAL, FOUR BRONZE SERVICE STARS, AND THE CROIX DE GUERRE BRONZE MEDAL FROM THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT FOR EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF FRANCE.