World War II Honoree

Paul 'Pete' Annex

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE IN 1942. SERVED FOR THREE YEARS, INCLUDING IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT CAMP CAMPBELL AT HOPKINSVILLE, KENTUCKY; THE TENNESSEE MANEUVER AREA; FORT KNOX AT LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY; FORT BRAGG AT FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA; AND AT CAMP COOKE AT OCEANO, CALIFORNIA. HIS BATTALION DEPARTED CALIFORNIA IN DECEMBER AND STAGED AT CAMP KILMER AT STELTON, NEW JERSEY ON DECEMBER 25, 1944 AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED FROM THE NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION ON JANUARY 3, 1945 ABOARD THE TRANSPORT SHIP USS HENRY GIBBONS (T-AP-183) AND ARRIVED AT THE PORT AT LE HAVRE, FRANCE ON JANUARY 16, 1945. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH THE 782ND TANK BATTALION. HIS CLOSEST BRUSH WITH DEATH CAME ON JANUARY 17, 1945 AT 1035 HOURS IN THE CRASH OF TROOP TRAIN 2980 AT ST. VALERY-EN-CAUX, FRANCE. THE TRAIN, CONSISTING OF 45 BOXCARS, WAS CARRYING HIM AND OTHER TROOPS FROM THEIR PORT OF DEBARKATION TO CAMP LUCKY STRIKE IN NORMANDY FOR STAGING BEFORE ENTERING COMBAT. HIS BATTALION SUSTAINED 54 KILLED AND 34 WOUNDED IN THE CRASH. HE FORTUNATELY ONLY RECEIVED CUTS, SCRATCHES AND BRUISES. THE CRASH DELAYED HIS BATTALION IN REACHING THE FRONT LINES UNTIL APRIL 23, 1945. PARTICIPATED IN THE CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGN. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE SERVICE STAR, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.