World War II Honoree

Thomas E. Padgett

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Winnsboro, South Carolina

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENLISTED AND ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE ON SEPTEMBER 4, 1940 AT FORT MOULTRIE, SOUTH CAROLINA. COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING AND QUALIFIED IN THE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY OF GENERAL CLERK (MOS 055). DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. ON OCTOBER 17, 1940 BOUND FOR THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS WHERE HE SERVED UNTIL MARCH 19, 1943 WITH ELEMENTS OF THE 190TH ORDNANCE BATTALION AND PARTICIPATED IN THE CENTRAL PACIFIC AND NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGNS. RETURNED STATESIDE AND SERVED WITH UNKNOWN UNITS UNTIL HE AGAIN DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. ON DECEMBER 19, 1944 BOUND AGAIN FOR THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. ASSIGNED TO AND SERVED WITH THE 4167TH QUARTERMASTER DEPOT COMPANY IN THE SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES CAMPAIGN. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A TECHNICIAN FOURTH GRADE ON AUGUST 31, 1945 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, CAMP ATTERBURY, INDIANA. EARNED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL WITH BRONZE STAR (INDICATING FOREIGN SERVICE), AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE BATTLE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND THE PHILIPPINES LIBERATION MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE BATTLE STAR.