World War II Honoree

Robert R. Payne

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Clay City, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

WITH PRIOR SERVICE IN COMPANY I, 53RD INFANTRY REGIMENT, FROM JANUARY 22, 1941 THROUGH OCTOBER 16, 1941, RECALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY FROM THE ENLISTED RESERVE CORPS ON FEBRUARY 7, 1942 AT FORT SHERIDAN, ILLINOIS. QUALIFIED IN THE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY OF AUTOMATIC RIFLEMAN (MOS 746). DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. ON JUNE 18, 1942 BOUND FOR THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS WHERE HE PARTICIPATED IN THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN WITH UNKNOWN UNITS. RETURNED STATESIDE ON MARCH 23, 1944 WHERE HE WAS ASSIGNED TO AND SERVED WITH COMPANY C, 195TH INFANTRY TRAINING BATTALION, AT CAMP BLANDING, FLORIDA. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A TECHNICIAN FOURTH GRADE ON OCTOBER 6, 1945 AT SAME STATION. EARNED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE BATTLE STAR, AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.