World War II Honoree

John Dallas Wilkins

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE IN 1941, TOGETHER WITH HIS TWIN BROTHER. SERVED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER IN THE FIELD ARTILLERY WITH THE 45TH INFANTRY 'THUNDERBIRD' DIVISION, INCLUDING AT CAMP BARKELEY AT ABILENE, TEXAS. HE WAS ON LEAVE BOWLING IN TULSA, OKLAHOMA ON DECEMBER 7, 1941 WHEN WORD CAME THAT THE JAPANESE HAD ATTACKED PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII AND THAT ALL LEAVE WAS CANCELLED AND TROOPS WERE TO RETURN TO THEIR DUTY STATIONS. APPLIED FOR OFFICER TRAINING, WAS ACCEPTED AND COMPLETED OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL. COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT, AND APPLIED FOR PARATROOPER TRAINING. AFTER COMPLETION, ASSIGNED TO THE 82ND AIRBORNE 'ALL AMERICAN' DIVISION. SERVED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT FORT BRAGG AT FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA. HIS DIVISION STAGED AT CAMP EDWARDS AT FALMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS ON APRIL 18, 1943 AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. DEPARTED FROM THE NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION ON APRIL 28, 1943 AND ARRIVED IN NORTH AFRICA AT CASABLANCA, MOROCCO ON MAY 10, 1943. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER DURING THE WAR. PARTICIPATED IN DIVISION AIR ASSAULT OPERATIONS, WAS WOUNDED IN ACTION, MEDICALLY EVACUATED, AND RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES FOR REHABILITATION. AWARDED SILVER COMBAT PARACHUTIST WINGS, THE PURPLE HEART, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.