World War II Honoree

Owen Clark Case

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Honored By

Elizabeth McCarty Case

Relationship

Wife

CORPORAL. INDUCTED JULY 17, 1944 INTO U.S. ARMY IN OKLAHOMA CITY. SENT TO FORT SILL, OKLAHOMA, PENDING ASSESSMENT OF CIVILIAN SKILLS AND DETERMINATION OF INDIVIDUAL TRAINING NEEDS. ASSIGNED TO 346TH TRANSPORTATION CORPS HARBOR CRAFT COMPANY AND TRANSPORTED TO CAMP GORDON JOHNSTON IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA FOR 6 WEEKS OF BASIC SHIP-TO-SHORE AMPHIBIOUS TRAINING INVOLVING THE USE OF AMPHIBIOUS TRUCKS CALLED DUKWS, COLLOQUIALLY KNOWN AS DUCKS. THESE SIX-WHEEL DRIVE, 2 ½ TON VEHICLES WERE USED FOR TRANSPORTING TROOPS AND SUPPLIES OVER LAND OR WATER AND FOR CROSSING BEACHES IN AMPHIBIOUS ATTACKS. TRAINING FOCUSED ON UNLOADING TROOPS AND CARGO AT SEA ONTO DUKWS, AND IN TURN, MOVING ITS CONTENTS THROUGH WATER AND OVER LAND TO PRESCRIBED DESTINATION POINTS. HE WAS TRAINED IN THE USE OF ROPES, CARGO NET CLIMBING AND DESCENDING, BOAT TEAM DRILL, DEBARKING AND DEPLOYMENT FROM MOCK-UP BOATS, PASSAGE THROUGH WIRE ENTANGLEMENTS AND OTHER OBSTACLES, AND VARIOUS AMPHIBIOUS TECHNIQUES. SUBSEQUENTLY PLACED ON FOUR MONTHS OF HANDS-ON SHIP DUTY BEFORE DEPLOYING OVERSEAS AND THEN SENT BY TRAIN FROM TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA TO SAN FRANCISCO. PLACED ON TRANSPORT SHIP TO PORT OF TACLOBAN ON LEYTE IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS WHERE HE PARTICIPATED IN ADDITIONAL SHIP-TO-SHORE TRAINING FOR TARGETED DESTINATIONS. TRANSFERRED TO LUZON FOR STAGING AND PREPARATION FOR INVASION OF JAPAN WHEN NOTIFIED ON SEPTEMBER 2, 1945, THAT THE JAPANESE SURRENDERED AND THE PACIFIC WAR HAD ENDED. REMAINED ON LUZON PERFORMING MISCELLANEOUS DUTIES. DEPARTED PHILIPPINE ISLANDS JULY 20, 1946 ARRIVING IN SAN FRANCISCO AUGUST 12, 1946. RETURNED TO FORT SAM HOUSTON IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS FOR DISCHARGE FROM ACTIVE DUTY ON AUGUST 20, 1946. AWARDED ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 BATTLE STAR, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL WITH BRONZE STAR, AND ARMY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL.