World War II Honoree

Mark Robertson Foutch, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Springfield, Illinois

Honored By

Mark R. Foutch III

Relationship

Son

ARMY BANDSMAN, EUPHONIUM PLAYER. ENLISTED OCTOBER 1940 FOR 'ONE-YEAR SERVICE COMMITMENT' WITH 130TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 33RD INFANTRY DIVISION, ILLINOIS NATIONAL GUARD. DIVISION CALLED TO FEDERAL SERVICE JANUARY-MARCH 1941. TRAINED AT CAMP FORREST, TENNESSEE AND PARTICIPATED IN LOUISIANA MANEUVERS. PEARL HARBOR CHANGED 'ONE YEAR' TO 'FOR THE DURATION.' SOME UNITS TRANSFERRED OUT FOR IMMEDIATE DEPLOYMENT; REMAINDER OF DIVISION WAS STREAMLINED TO 'TRIANGULAR' FORMATION AND MOVED FOR REFITTING AND TRAINING AT FORT LEWIS, WASHINGTON AND THE DESERT TRAINING CENTER IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. DEPLOYED TO HAWAII JUNE-JULY 1943 FOR SECURITY DUTY AND AMPHIBIOUS TRAINING. DEPLOYED TO FINSCHAFEN, NEW GUINEA, MAY 1944 FOR LOGISTIC SUPPORT AND LIMITED COMBAT SERVICE. THE 33RD SAW MORE COMBAT HOLDING MOROTAI WITH ITS KEY AIRFIELD, THEN HEAVY COMBAT ON LUZON SPRING-SUMMER 1945. AFTER THEIR CAPTURE OF THE PHILIPPINE SUMMER CAPITAL AT BAGUIO AND JAPAN'S SURRENDER, HE CAME HOME IN SEPTEMBER 1945. WHILE AT BAGUIO, HE COMPOSED 'THE MARCHING SONG OF THE 33RD DIVISION,' THE UNIT'S OFFICIAL MARCH.