World War II Honoree

John M. Paige

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Boston, Massachusetts

Honored By

Horace G. Ray

Relationship

Friend

ENLISTED MAY 22, 1942 IN BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. SENT TO FORT DEVENS FOR A SHORT TIME. MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA FOR BASIC TRAINING. IN JULY 1942, WAS SENT TO SCOTT FIELD, ILLINOIS FOR RADIO OPERATOR SCHOOL. AFTER GRADUATION IN NOVEMBER 1942, SENT TO CAMP KILMER, NEW JERSEY FOR SHIPMENT OVERSEAS. LANDED IN ORAN, ALGERIA, DECEMBER 26, 1942. ASSIGNED TO 58TH ARMY AIRWAYS COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE WITH TEMPORARY DUTY WITH A MOBILE WEATHER FORECASTING UNIT. IN JULY 1943, ASSIGNED TO TUNIS, TUNISIA. IN SEPTEMBER 1943 ASSIGNED TO SALERNO, ITALY. FEBRUARY 1944 TO ANZIO BEACH HEAD AND FOLLOWED THE FIGHTING OF THE GERMANS THROUGH ITALY. ENDED UP IN GROSSETO, ITALY IN FEBRUARY 1945. RETURNED TO U.S. TO REST AND RECOVER. RETURNED TO ITALY AND ASSIGNED TO A UNIT AWAITING OCCUPATION DUTY IN AUSTRIA. AS AUSTRIA WAS TO BE OCCUPIED, NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE RUSSIANS FOR THE USE OF TULLN AIR BASE NEAR VIENNA, TOOK SEVERAL WEEKS. AFTER COMPLETED NEGOTIATIONS, THE 117TH ARMY AIRWAYS COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE SQUADRON MOVED OVER THE ALPS DRIVING TRUCKS WITH TROOPS AND EQUIPMENT INTO VIENNA AND TULLN AIR BASE. ASSIGNED DUTY AS A RADIO OPERATOR UNTIL RETURNING TO THE U.S. FOR DISCHARGE. AWARDED EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER MEDAL FOR CAMPAIGNS IN SICILY, NAPLES-FOGGIA, AND ROME-ARNO. RECEIVED GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.