World War II Honoree

John Paul Becker

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Brooklyn, New York

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE IN 1943. SERVED AS A PARATROOPER IN THE AMERICAN AND ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATERS WITH THE 11TH AIRBORNE 'ANGELS' DIVISION. STATIONED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT CAMP POLK AT LEESVILLE, LOUISIANA. STAGED WITH HIS UNIT AT CAMP STONEMAN AT PITTSBURG, CALIFORNIA ON APRIL 23, 1944 AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED FROM THE SAN FRANCISCO PORT OF EMBARKATION ON MAY 8, 1944 AND ARRIVED IN NEW GUINEA IN JUNE, 1944. PARTICIPATED IN THE NEW GUINEA, LEYTE, AND LUZON CAMPAIGNS. DURING COMBAT OPERATIONS IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, HIS DIVISION BATTLED JAPANESE PARACHUTISTS WHO LANDED NEAR THE SAN PABLO AIRSTRIP FROM DECEMBER 6-11, 1944. FOUGHT ON LUZON, IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, AND TOOK PART IN THE LIBERATION OF PRISONERS AT THE JAPANESE INTERNMENT CAMP AT LOS BANOS ON FEBRUARY 23, 1945. HIS UNIT ARRIVED ON OKINAWA IN AUGUST, 1945 AS THE WAR ENDED AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY SENT TO JAPAN FOR OCCUPATION DUTY ON AUGUST 30, 1945. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, PARACHUTIST BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH 'JAPAN' CLASP. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.