World War II Honoree

George N. Cox

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Prescott, Arkansas

Honored By

Donald Crane & Douglas M. Alford, USN

HE WAS SWORN INTO THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND BEGAN HIS ACTIVE DUTY AT CAMP ROBINSON, LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS ON AUGUST 11, 1944. HE TOOK HIS BASIC TRAINING AT CAMP ROBINSON AND ADVANCED WEAPONS TRAINING AT CAMP BLANDING IN FLORIDA. HE RECEIVED RIFLE, HEAVY WEAPONS TRAINING UP TO GUNNER. HE ALSO RECEIVED TRUCK DRIVER TRAINING. AT THE END OF THE TRAINING HE WAS SHIPPED TO SAN FRANCISCO WHERE HE TOOK A TROOP SHIP TO THE ISLAND OF LEYTE IN THE PHILIPPINES. LEYTE WAS THE STAGING AREA FOR THE ATTACK ON THE JAPANESE HOMELAND. HE WAS ADVANCED FROM LEYTE AND THROUGH OKINAWA TO LAND AT TOKYO. HE LANDED IN TOKYO ON THE SAME DATE AS THE SURRENDER OF JAPAN ON AUGUST 25, 1945. HE SERVED AS PART OF THE OCCUPYING FORCE ON THE ISLANDS FOR ONE YEAR. HE WAS SHIPPED TO SAN FRANCISCO AND THEN BY TROOP TRAIN TO FORT SAM HOUSTON, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS WHERE HE RECEIVED HIS HONORABLE DISCHARGE. DURING HIS TOUR HE RECEIVED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN RIBBON WITH 1 BRONZE STAR, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON WITH 1 BRONZE STAR, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL (JAPAN), WWII VICTORY RIBBON AND 2 OVERSEAS SERVICE BARS.