World War II Honoree

Richard S. Munson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Woodbury, Connecticut

Honored By

Maureen Munson-Bette

Relationship

Daughter

SERVED JUNE 10, 1943 TO MARCH 1, 1946 AS A TECHNICAL SERGEANT, 4TH GRADE WITH COMPANY M, 3RD BATTALION, 391ST INFANTRY REGIMENT. STATIONED AT CAMP RUCKER, ALABAMA. IN APRIL 1944, HIS REGIMENT WAS DEPLOYED TO THE FORT LAWTON, WASHINGTON STAGING AREA, BOARDED THE SS MONTEREY AND SAILED FOR THE PORT OF HONOLULU, HAWAII. ASSIGNED TO DEFEND THE ISLAND OF MAUI, STATIONED AT CAMP PAUKUKALO. LATER, HE MOVED TO TAKE OVER THE DEFENSE OF OAHU. HE WAS PREPARING TO TAKE PART IN THE INVASION OF KYUSHU, JAPAN (OPERATION OLYMPIA) ON NOVEMBER 1, 1945, HOWEVER THE JAPANESE SURRENDERED IN AUGUST. IN SEPTEMBER, HE BOARDED A LIBERTY SHIP FOR OCCUPATION DUTIES IN JAPAN. HE STOPPED OVER IN SAIPAN FOR 3 DAYS OF REFUELING. ON SEPTEMBER 27TH, HE LANDED IN WAKAYAMA HARBOR IN HONSHU AND BOARDED A TRAIN AND MARCHED TO TAISHO AIRPORT. ON OCTOBER 11TH, THEY OCCUPIED THE OSAKA COMMERCIAL COLLEGE IN SUGIMOTOCHO. HE LEFT JAPAN ON FEBRUARY 8, 1946 AS WAS DISCHARGED AT FORT DEVENS, MASSACHUSETTS. HE WAS AWARDED THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL. HE QUALIFIED WITH THE MM CARBINE, 2ND CLASS GUNNER AND RECEIVED THE EXPERT INFANTRYMAN BADGE.