World War II Honoree

Ira Cornelius Redfern, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Chesterfield, South Carolina

Honored By

James O. Sweeny

Relationship

Classmate

HE ENTERED INTO ACTIVE DUTY WITH THE ARMY IN JULY, 1940. HE WAS A PLATOON LEADER AND TOOK BASIC OFFICER COURSES AT CAMP WHEELER UNTIL MARCH, 1942. FROM MARCH 3, 1942 UNTIL JULY 1942 HE WAS COMMANDING OFFICER OF COMPANY D, 307TH INFANTRY AT CAMP JACKSON, SOUTH CAROLINA. HE COMMANDED COMPANY H, 376TH INFANTRY AT FORT CUSTER, MICHIGAN FROM AUGUST 1942 TO MAY 1943. HE WAS COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE ANTI-TANK COMPANY, 376TH INFANTRY AT CAMP PHILLIPS, KANSAS FROM MAY TO DECEMBER, 1943. FROM JANUARY TO AUGUST, 1944 HE SERVED AS REGIMENTAL SUPPLY OFFICER FOR THE 376TH INFANTRY IN EUROPE, AND FROM AUGUST 1944 TO FEBRUARY 1945 AS MUNITIONS OFFICER. FROM FEBRUARY 1945 TO JULY, 1945 HE WAS S-4 FOR THE 376TH INFANTRY. HE BECAME A BATTALION COMMANDER ON 5 JULY 1945, AND THEN SERVED AS REGIMENTAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER UNTIL JANUARY 1946. ON 5 JANUARY 1946 HE BECAME ASSISTANT G4 IN THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE 3RD ARMY AND CONTINUED IN EUROPE UNTIL ORDERED BACK TO THE STATES TO ATTEND COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLLEGE IN FORT LEAVANWORTH, KANSAS. HE REMAINED IN THE REGULAR ARMY UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT. FOR HIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN WWII, HE EARNED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AND THE LEGION OF MERIT.