World War II Honoree

Jerry E. Couch

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Pawnee, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE IN 1943. TRAINED, INCLUDING AS A PARATROOPER, IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT CAMP MACKALL AT HOFFMAN, NORTH CAROLINA; AND CAMP POLK AT LEESVILLE, LOUISIANA. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER DURING THE WAR, INCLUDING IN NEW GUINEA; ON LEYTE, MINDORO, AND LUZON IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS; AND ON OKINAWA IN THE RYUKYU ISLANDS. THEN SERVED WITH OCCUPATION FORCES AFTER THE END OF HOSTILITIES. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, PARACHUTIST BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE ARROWHEAD DEVICE AND 3 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH ‘JAPAN’ CLASP. AUTHORIZED THE PRESIDENTIAL (DISTINGUISHED) UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS UNIT IN COMBAT. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1946 WITH THE RANK OF STAFF SERGEANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.