World War II Honoree

James F. Perry, Sr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Flora, Illinois

Honored By

James F. Perry, Jr.

Relationship

Son

AT AGE 21, ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS A DRAFTEE AT CAMP GRANT, ILLINOIS IN EARLY 1942. SELECTED FOR THE ARMY AND ATTENDED BASIC TRAINING AT FORT MCCLELLAN, ALABAMA. HAVING ONE YEAR OF COLLEGE, HE VOLUNTEERED FOR AND COMPLETED ARMY INFANTRY OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL AT FORT BENNING, GEORGIA AND WAS COMMISSIONED AS A 2ND LIEUTENANT WITH MILITARY OCCUPATION SPECIALTY OF INFANTRY UNIT COMMANDER. ASSIGNED TO AND TRAINED AT VARIOUS STATESIDE BASES WITH THE 386TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 97TH INFANTRY 'TRIDENT' DIVISION, DEPARTING THE CONTINENTAL U.S. WITH HIS UNIT ON 19 FEBRUARY 1944 BOUND FOR THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. LANDED AT LE HAVRE, FRANCE ON 2 MARCH 1944 AND ENTERED THE COMBAT ZONE WEST OF AACHEN, GERMANY ON 28 MARCH 1944 AND WAS ENGAGED IN THE RHINELAND AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS UNTIL RECEIVING THE CEASE-FIRE ON 7 MAY 1944 IN THE VICINITY OF KONSTANTINOVY LAZNE, CZECHOSLOVAKIA. THEREAFTER, HE TRANSFERRED OUT OF THE 97TH INFANTRY DIVISION FOR ARMY OF OCCUPATION DUTY AND EVENTUALLY WAS STATIONED IN BREMERHAVEN, GERMANY, SERVING AS LIAISON OFFICER FOR THE STATE DEPARTMENT AT THE AMERICAN CONSULATE UNTIL HE RETURNED TO THE U.S. IN 1947. THERE, HE WAS STATIONED AT FORT LEWIS, WASHINGTON, SERVING WITH THE 9TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, 2ND INFANTRY 'SECOND TO NONE' DIVISION AS A COMPANY COMMANDER. HE EARNED THE DISTINGUISHED UNIT BADGE, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE BATTLE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL (GERMANY). FINAL RANK; LIEUTENANT COLONEL.