World War II Honoree

Thomas Elmer Avants

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Blackburn, Pawnee County, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE IN 1945 IN THE CLOSING MONTHS OF HOSTILITIES. TRAINED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT FORT RILEY AT JUNCTION CITY, KANSAS. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, AND WITH OCCUPATION FORCES IN JAPAN AFTER THE END OF HOSTILITIES. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH ‘JAPAN’ CLASP. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1946 WITH THE RANK OF CORPORAL AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.