World War II Honoree

John H. Wilkes, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Troy, New York

Honored By

Lorraine & Patricia

Relationship

Daughters

ENLISTED; APRIL 6, 1943 AT AGE 18 TO SERVE COUNTRY. SENT TO CAMP BLANDING, FLORIDA FOR BASIC TRAINING THEN SENT TO CAMP ROBINSON, ARKANSAS FOR ADVANCE INFANTRY TRAINING. ASSIGNED TO COMPANY E, 2ND BATTALION, 141ST INFANTRY REGIMENT, 36TH INFANTRY DIVISION, ALSO KNOWN AS THE FIGHTING 36TH PANTHER DIVISION. SENT OVERSEAS IN APRIL 1943. LIBERATED AND SECURED SUB-CAMPS OF DACHAU CONCENTRATION CAMP SYSTEM. AFTER 400 DAYS OF COMBAT, WAS RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES. SERVED IN AMERICAN THEATER AND EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. RECEIVED TWO BRONZE STAR MEDALS, PURPLE HEART (FOR WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION, OCTOBER 26, 1944), PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER MEDAL WITH 7 BATTLE STARS (NAPLES-FOGGIA, ANZIO, ROME-ARNO, SOUTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, ARDENNES-ALSACE AND CENTRAL EUROPE), AND BRONZE ARROWHEAD FOR SOUTHERN FRANCE INVASION. ALSO RECEIVED WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH GERMANY CLASP, NEW YORK STATE CONSPICUOUS SERVICE CROSS WITH 3 SILVER CROSS ATTACHMENTS, NEW YORK CONSPICUOUS SERVICE STAR AND HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.