World War II Honoree

John D. Cheek

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENTERED ACTIVE MILITARY SERVICE AS A FIELD ARTILLERY OFFICER. STATIONED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT FORT SILL AT LAWTON, OKLAHOMA, FORT HOOD AT KILLEEN, TEXAS, AND FORT KNOX AT LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY IN ARMORED ARTILLERY ASSIGNMENTS. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER WITH THE 8TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION, 25TH INFANTRY 'TROPICAL LIGHTNING' DIVISION. LANDED IN THE SAN FABIAN AREA, NORTH OF MANILA, ON JANUARY 11, 1945 AND PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF LUZON IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. TOOK PART IN COMBAT OPERATIONS ON THE CENTRAL LUZON PLAIN AND IN THE CARABALLO MOUNTAINS. ARRIVED IN JAPAN WITH HIS UNIT ON OCTOBER 28, 1945 AFTER THE END OF HOSTILITIES AND SERVED WITH OCCUPATION FORCES AT HARA, HAGOYA, OSAKA, AND KOBE. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH ‘JAPAN’ CLASP. AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR SERVICE IN THE WAR AGAINST JAPAN DURING THE PERIOD OCTOBER 17, 1944 TO JULY 4, 1945. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1946 AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.