World War II Honoree

James A. Embry, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Chandler, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN THE OKLAHOMA NATIONAL GUARD BEFORE THE UNITED STATES ENTERED THE WAR, AND WHILE STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL. SERVED WITH BATTERY C, 160TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION IN CHANDLER, OKLAHOMA AS PART OF OKLAHOMA'S 45TH 'THUNDERBIRD' DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS (ROTC) PROGRAM WHILE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA IN NORMAN, OKLAHOMA. UPON GRADUATION, HE WAS COMMISSIONED AN ARMY SECOND LIEUTENANT, WAS CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY AND SERVED BRIEFLY AT FORT SILL AT LAWTON, OKLAHOMA WITH BATTERY A, 1ST FIELD ARTILLERY AS A RECONNAISSANCE OFFICER. IN AUGUST, 1937, HE TRANSFERRED BRANCH OF SERVICE FROM THE ARMY TO THE MARINE CORPS, RETAINING THE RANK OF SECOND LIEUTENANT. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC AREA DURING THE WAR. IN 1943, HE WAS ASSIGNED AS COMMANDING OFFICER OF MARINE FIGHTER SQUADRON VMF-225, FLYING F4U CORSAIR AIRCRAFT. IN MAY, 1944, HE WAS PROMOTED TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL AND ASSIGNED AS OPERATIONS OFFICER IN MARINE AIRCRAFT GROUP MAG-21. SERVED ON ACTIVE DUTY AFTER THE WAR UNTIL TRANSFERRED TO THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE. AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HE RETIRED FROM THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE WITH THE RANK OF COLONEL.