World War II Honoree

James I. Head

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Las Cruces, New Mexico

Honored By

Anna Head Wilson

Relationship

Daughter

INDUCTED AND ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE JANUARY 6, 1943 AT FORT BLISS, TEXAS. ATTENDED U.S. ARMY EIGHT WEEK ORDNANCE TRACK VEHICLE SCHOOL. ASSIGNED TO THE 20TH ARMORED DIVISION'S 138TH ORDNANCE MAINTENANCE BATTALION AND DEPARTED BOSTON PORT OF EMBARKATION FEBRUARY 6, 1945. ARRIVED TO THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS AT LE HAVRE, FRANCE FEBRUARY 18. MOVED THROUGH BELGIUM'S ARDENNES AREA AND INTO GERMANY, APRIL 10. ATTACHED TO GENERAL ALEXANDER PATCH'S SEVENTH ARMY AT WÜRZBURG, GERMANY. BECAUSE OF A FALSE SURRENDER, ACTION AGAINST ENEMY FORCES RESULTED IN FIGHTING NEAR DORF, APRIL 25. CROSSED THE SWIFT WATERS OF THE DANUBE RIVER AS U.S. FORCES MADE AN AMPHIBIOUS LANDING APRIL 28. MET SPORADIC LIGHT RESISTANCE WITH ONE SERIOUS ENGAGEMENT AGAINST WELL ENTRENCHED PANZERFAUST FORCES. BIVOUACKED NEAR DACHAU CONCENTRATION CAMP WHEN LIBERATED. REACHED THE INN RIVER AT WASSERBURG MAY 3 AND CONTINUED TOWARD SALZBURG MAY 4 WHEN GERMAN RESISTANCE ENDED. V-E DAY WAS DECLARED MAY 7 AND ASSIGNED TO SECURITY FORCES UNTIL DEPARTING THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS JULY 25. RETURNED STATESIDE AUGUST 2, 1945 AND SENT TO CALIFORNIA FOR EMBARKATION TO THE PACIFIC. JAPAN SURRENDERED AUGUST 14 AND HE WAS HONORABLY SEPARATED AT FORT MACARTHUR, CALIFORNIA, DECEMBER 4, 1945. AWARDS: AMERICAN THEATER AND EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER CAMPAIGN RIBBONS (1 BRONZE CAMPAIGN STAR FOR CENTRAL EUROPE), WWII VICTORY SERVICE MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AND HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON. EXPERT RIFLE BADGE (M-1 CARBINE). SERIAL NUMBER 38 217895.