World War II Honoree

George A. Fratus

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Pasadena, California

Honored By

Jeffrey E. Pyott

Relationship

Grandson

ENLISTED: JULY 29, 1940, CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD. TRAINING: CAMP SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA. ASSIGNED TO COMPANY A, 115TH MEDICAL BATTALION, 40TH INFANTRY DIVISION. SERVED IN AMERICAN THEATER. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING UNITED STATES INVOLVEMENT IN WWII THE DIVISION BECAME PART OF THE U.S. ARMY AND WAS SENT TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOR COAST DEFENSE DUTY FOR 4 MONTHS. IN APRIL 1942, MOVED NORTH TO FORT LEWIS, WASHINGTON FOR ADVANCED TRAINING. IN SEPTEMBER 1942, WAS ORDERED TO SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA AND BOARDED TROOP TRANSPORT SHIPS, FOR THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER; KAUAI (ISLAND DEFENSE) SEPTEMBER 1942 - JANUARY 1943. OAHU; (NORTH SECTOR DEFENSE) JANUARY 1943 - OCTOBER 1943. GUADALCANAL; DECEMBER 1943 - JUNE 1944. NEW BRITAIN; JUNE 1944 - DECEMBER 1944. SPENT 1 MONTH ABOARD SHIP BEFORE LANDING AT LUZON ISLAND, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS (LINGAYEN GULF); JANUARY 9, 1945. ISLAND HOPPED TO PANAY, NEGROS UNTIL THE CAMPAIGN ENDED JUNE 2, 1945. WAS TOLD TO GET READY FOR JAPAN AND 2 DAYS LATER WAS GOING HOME FOR SERVING HIS COUNTRY FOR MORE THAN 3 YEARS. CAUGHT A SHIP AT LEYTE AND HEADED TO SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA. HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM US ARMY AS STAFF SERGEANT AT CAMP BEALE, CALIFORNIA ON SEPTEMBER 30, 1945. IN ADDITION TO THEATER RIBBONS, WAS AWARDED COMBAT MEDICAL BADGE AND BRONZE STAR MEDAL.