World War II Honoree

Luther Joe Herndon, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Ardmore, Oklahoma

Honored By

William E. Shaklee

Relationship

ROTC Classmate

APPOINTED SECOND LIEUTENANT MAY 14, 1942, FROM ROTC, OKLAHOMA A & M COLLEGE AND ORDERED TO ACTIVE DUTY JUNE 2 AT CAMP CLAIBORNE, LOUISIANA. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 98TH ENGINEERING GENERAL SERVICE REGIMENT, AN ALERTED UNIT, LEFT LOUISIANA FOR FORT DIX, NEW JERSEY, JUNE 21 AND SAILED FROM BROOKLYN PORT OF EMBARKATION JULY 1. HE LANDED IN SCOTLAND NOVEMBER 15, AND BECAME A PLATOON LEADER OF COMPANY D. HE WORKED ON BUILDING A REGIMENT SIZE CAMP SOUTH OF BRISTOL, ENGLAND, AND WENT FROM ENGLAND TO ORAN, ALGERIA, IN FEBRUARY 1943. HE WORKED ON VARIOUS JOBS, THEN RECEIVED 2 DAYS COMBAT ENGINEER TRAINING AND MOVED TO THE SITE OF HEAVY TANK BATTLES NEAR MCNASSY, ALGERIA, TO CLEAR THE BATTLEFIELD OF MINES. HIS REGIMENT MOVED TO BIZERTE, TUNISIA, TO REPAIR THE PORT FOR SHIPPING SUPPLIES TO SICILY. AS A FIRST LIEUTENANT, HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS AS PERSONNEL OFFICER. HIS REGIMENT MOVED TO NAPLES, ITALY IN DECEMBER, REMOVING PERSONNEL MINES AND REMODELING BUILDINGS INTO HOSPITALS. AFTER THE ANZIO BEACHHEAD WAS WON HE MOVED STEADILY NORTH, THE LAST LOCATION BEING LEGHORN. HE ROTATED HOME LEAVING NAPLES THE DAY BEFORE V-E DAY, WAS ASSIGNED TO THE REPLACEMENT DEPOT, FORT LEONARD WOOD, MISSOURI, AND THEN TRANSFERRED TO FORT LEWIS, WASHINGTON, WHERE HE SERVED IN THE POST PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT UNTIL DISCHARGED IN OCTOBER 1945 AS A CAPTAIN. HIS AWARDS INCLUDED THE EUROPEAN-NORTH AFRICA MEDAL WITH 4 BRONZE STARS, THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.