World War II Honoree

Louis M. Eaves

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Pawnee, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE IN 1940, BEFORE THE UNITED STATES ENTERED THE WAR. SERVED WITH THE OKLAHOMA NATIONAL GUARD UNTIL HIS REGIMENT WAS INDUCTED INTO FEDERAL SERVICE AT OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA ON SEPTEMBER 16, 1940. SERVED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER AT FORT SILL AT LAWTON, OKLAHOMA IN 1940-41; CAMP BARKELEY AT ABILENE, TEXAS IN 1941-42; CAMP BOWIE AT BROWNWOOD, TEXAS IN JUNE, 1941 TO PARTICIPATE IN THE VIII CORPS TEXAS MANEUVERS; MANSFIELD, LOUISIANA IN AUGUST-SEPTEMBER, 1941 TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LOUISIANA MANEUVERS; FORT DEVENS AT AYER, MASSACHUSETTS IN 1942; PINE CAMP AT WATERTOWN, NEW YORK IN 1942-43; AND CAMP PICKETT AT BLACKSTONE, VIRGINIA IN 1943. STAGED WITH HIS UNIT AT CAMP PATRICK HENRY AT ORIANA, VIRGINIA ON MAY 25, 1943 AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED FROM THE HAMPTON ROADS PORT OF EMBARKATION ON JUNE 8, 1943, LANDED IN NORTH AFRICA ON JUNE 22, 1943 AND WENT INTO TRAINING AT ARZEW, ALGERIA. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH B COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 179TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 45TH INFANTRY 'THUNDERBIRD' DIVISION DURING THE WAR, INCLUDING IN NORTH AFRICA, AT ANZIO IN ITALY, AND IN GERMANY. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1945 WITH THE RANK OF TECHNICAL SERGEANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.