World War II Honoree

Maurice Chilton Futrell

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Linton, Kentucky

Honored By

John M. Futrell

Relationship

Son

ENLISTED IN THE ARMY ON JUNE 25, 1942 IN BOWLING GREEN, KENTUCKY. SERVED IN THE ARMY ROTC AT WESTERN KENTUCKY STATE TEACHERS COLLEGE UNTIL APRIL 9, 1943. BASIC TRAINING AT FORT HARRISON, INDIANA AND MECHANICAL TRAINING AT FORT WOLTERS, TEXAS. PLACED IN HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, SECOND BATTALION, 127TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 32D DIVISION. ARRIVED IN AUSTRALIA NOVEMBER 10, 1943, AND WENT TO PORT MORESBY, NEW GUINEA, WITH GENERAL DOUGLAS MACARTHUR. MADE AN AMPHIBIOUS LANDING AT AITAPE, NEW GUINEA. PARTICIPATED IN THE SOUTH PHILIPPINE ISLANDS LIBERATION AND THE BATTLE FOR LUZON, INCLUDING THE 125 DAYS OF FIGHTING THROUGH THE VILLA VERDE TRAIL. AFTER THE WAR ENDED, SERVED BRIEFLY IN THE ARMY OF OCCUPATION IN SASEBO, JAPAN. WAS DISCHARGED HONORABLY ON DECEMBER 23, 1945. AWARDED COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC RIBBON, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. WAS ALSO AWARDED BRONZE STAR MEDAL FOR HEROIC ACHIEVEMENT DURING THE VILLA VERDE TRAIL CAMPAIGN. STARTED AS A PRIVATE IN THE INFANTRY, PROMOTED TO A PRIVATE FIRST CLASS AND SERVED AS A SCOUT. PROMOTED TO SERGEANT TECHNICIAN AND THEN PROMOTED TO STAFF SERGEANT.