World War II Honoree
Killed In Action
Orval Otis Cather
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Pawnee County, Oklahoma
Honored By
Robert S. Cox
ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE ON OCTOBER 30, 1942. TRAINED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT FORT ORD AT MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA; FORT LEWIS AT TACOMA, WASHINGTON; AND PORTLAND, OREGON. LANDED IN NEW GUINEA ON DECEMBER 23, 1944 AND SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE ENGINEER CORPS OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER DURING THE WAR. ALSO PARTICIPATED IN OPERATIONS IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. PRIVATE CATHER WAS INITIALLY REPORTED AS MISSING IN ACTION WHEN THE SHIP THAT WAS TRANSPORTING HIM WAS SUNK OFF MINDINAO IN THE SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES ON FEBRUARY 11, 1945. HIS STATUS WAS LATER CHANGED TO KILLED IN ACTION EFFECTIVE THAT SAME DATE. POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES.