World War II Honoree

Robert Lee Gourley

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Trumann, Arkansas

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

WORKED FOR THE FRISCO RAILROAD COMPANY BEFORE BEING DRAFTED INTO MILITARY SERVICE. SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER WITH THE 96TH INFANTRY 'DEADEYE' DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE LEYTE AND RYUKYUS CAMPAIGNS. TOOK PART IN COMBAT OPERATIONS AT LEYTE IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS AND ON OKINAWA IN THE RYUKYU ISLANDS. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM ACTIVE DUTY AFTER THE WAR AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON. CONTINUED IN U.S. ARMY RESERVE SERVICE AFTER THE WAR, WAS RECALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY AND SERVED UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT WITH THE RANK OF MASTER SERGEANT.