World War II Honoree

James R. Ballinger

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Jennings, Pawnee County, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE IN 1942. TRAINED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT FORT ORD AT MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA; AND CAMP GRUBER AT BRAGGS, OKLAHOMA. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER, ON LUZON IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, AND ON OKINAWA IN THE RYUKYU ISLANDS, DURING THE WAR. WOUNDED IN ACTION DURING THE BATTLE FOR OKINAWA IN 1945, AND AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART. ALSO AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH ‘JAPAN’ CLASP. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL WITH STAR FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1945 WITH THE RANK OF TECHNICIAN FIFTH GRADE AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.