World War II Honoree

Roy Hieronymus Culbreath

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Caddo, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER WITH THE 35TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 25TH INFANTRY ‘TROPICAL LIGHTNING’ DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE GUADALCANAL, NORTHERN SOLOMONS, AND LUZON CAMPAIGNS. HIS REGIMENT LANDED ON GUADALCANAL IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS ON DECEMBER 17, 1942; ATTACKED MT. AUSTEN ON JANUARY 7, 1943 WHERE SOME OF THE FIERCEST FIGHTING IN THE PACIFIC TOOK PLACE, AND THEN PUSHED UP SEAHORSE HILL. THE REGIMENT WAS ATTACHED TO THE NORTHERN LANDING FORCE TASK FORCE 31 ON AUGUST 11, 1943, AND ASSAULTED VELLA LAVELLA ISLAND IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS ON AUGUST 15, 1943. IT ATTACKED KOKOLOPE BAY AND THEN ENGAGED IN MONTH-LONG COMBAT BEFORE THE ISLAND WAS SECURED. AFTER RETURNING TO GUADALCANAL ON OCTOBER 20, 1943, HIS UNIT MOVED TO NEW CALEDONIA, A STRATEGIC FRENCH ISLAND ON THE NORTHEAST APPROACH TO AUSTRALIA, ON FEBRUARY 13, 1944. RETURNED TO GUADALCANAL ON DECEMBER 21, 1944, AND THEN MOVED TO MANUS ISLAND IN THE ADMIRALTY ISLANDS ON DECEMBER 29, 1944 EN ROUTE TO THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. LANDED AT LINGAYEN GULF, LUZON IN THE PHILIPPINES ON JANUARY 11, 1945. HIS REGIMENT CAPTURED LUPAO AFTER A PITCHED BATTLE ON FEBRUARY 8, 1945; ASSAULTED THE CARABALLO MOUNTAINS TO CAPTURE PUNCAN ON MARCH 2, 1945; MOVED UP THE OLD SPANISH TRAIL AGAINST DETERMINED OPPOSITION AND STRONG COUNTERATTACKS; TOOK FISHHOOK RIDGE ON APRIL 2, 1945 AND WAS THE FIRST UNIT TO ENTER THE CITY OF KAPINTALAN AS IT SECURED MT. MYOKO. THEN ATTACKED BALETE PASS AND TOOK PART IN A FIERCE BATTLE FOR KAPINTALAN RIDGE THAT FELL ON MAY 13, 1945. HIS REGIMENT AND ANOTHER HAD TO SEAL OVER 200 CAVES ON THE RIDGE. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE ARROWHEAD DEVICE AND 3 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. AUTHORIZED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS REGIMENT AT GUADALCANAL. AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR SERVICE BY HIS DIVISION 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 WITH THE RANK OF TECHNICAL SERGEANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.