World War II Honoree

Joe H. Phillips

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Stafford, Custer County, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ORDERED TO DUTY WITH THE 96TH INFANTRY DIVISION. SERVED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT CAMP WHITE AT MEDFORD, OREGON, CAMP SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, AND CAMP BEALE AT MARYSVILLE, CALIFORNIA. STAGED WITH HIS REGIMENT AT CAMP STONEMAN AT PITTSBURG, CALIFORNIA ON JULY 17, 1944 AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED FROM THE SAN FRANCISCO PORT OF EMBARKATION ON JULY 23, 1944 AND ARRIVED IN THE TERRITORY OF HAWAII ON JULY 28, 1944. SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER WITH COMPANY K, 3RD BATTALION, 382ND INFANTRY REGIMENT, 96TH INFANTRY ‘DEADEYE’ DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN THE LEYTE, AND RYUKYUS CAMPAIGNS. TRAINED ON OAHU, HAWAII AND DEPARTED HAWAII ON SEPTEMBER 15, 1944. HIS UNIT ASSAULTED LEYTE, IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS ON OCTOBER 20, 1944. TOOK PART IN COMBAT OPERATIONS, PATROLLING, MOPPING-UP AND SECURITY OPERATIONS ON LEYTE UNTIL FEBRUARY 10, 1945 WHEN THE ISLAND WAS SECURED. HIS REGIMENT THEN BEGAN TRAINING FOR THE OKINAWA INVASION IN FEBRUARY, 1945, DEPARTED LEYTE AND LANDED ON OKINAWA ON APRIL 2, 1945. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE ARROWHEAD AND 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HIS REGIMENT WAS AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR SERVICE 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 DURING THE PERIOD OCTOBER 17, 1944 TO SEPTEMBER 3, 1945. HONORABLY DISCHARGED WITH THE RANK OF CORPORAL, AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.