World War II Honoree

James Henry Wannamaker, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Cheraw, South Carolina

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED AS AN AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHER IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER WITH THE 26TH PHOTOGRAPHIC RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON, 7TH AIR FORCE. RESPONSIBLE FOR PHOTO MAPPING OF TARGET AREAS IN THE SOUTHWEST AND WESTERN PACIFIC FOR INTELLIGENCE AND OPERATIONAL PLANNING AND ASSESSMENTS. HIS GROUP WAS STATIONED IN AUSTRALIA, NEW GUINEA, ON BIAK ISLAND, IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, AND ON OKINAWA DURING THE WAR. ALSO STATIONED ON OKINAWA AND AT KIMPO, KOREA AFTER THE WAR WITH OCCUPATION FORCES. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WIH 'JAPAN' CLASP. AUTHORIZED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION WITH BRONZE OAK LEAF CLUSTER FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS SQUADRON IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS ON SEPTEMBER 18-20, 1944 AND AGAIN ON MARCH 22, 1945. AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR SERVICE IN THE WAR AGAINST JAPAN DURING THE PERIOD OCTOBER 17, 1944 TO JULY 4, 1945. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.