World War II Honoree

Keith N. Wilcox

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Clay City, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE ON JULY 19, 1944 AT CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. SELECTED FOR DUTY WITH THE INFANTRY, COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING, AND QUALIFIED IN THE MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY OF MEDICAL TECHNICIAN (MOS 861). DEPARTED THE CONTINENTAL U.S. ON FEBRUARY 19, 1945 BOUND FOR THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. ASSIGNED TO AND FOUGHT WITH COMPANY F, 307TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 77TH ‘STATUE OF LIBERTY’ INFANTRY DIVISION, IN THE RYUKYUS CAMPAIGN. REDEPLOYED TO THE PHILIPPINES FOR TRAINING AND THEN TO JAPAN FOR OCCUPATION DUTIES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AS A PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ON JULY 17, 1946 AT THE SEPARATION CENTER, FORT SHERIDAN, ILLINOIS. EARNED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE BATTLE STAR, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL (JAPAN), AND THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE BATTLE STAR.