World War II Honoree

John White, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Cairo, Illinois

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Technical Sergeant. He entered the Army on March 5, 1941 at Cairo, Illinois as a member of the Illinois Army National Guard. July 7, 1943 he deployed to the Pacific Theater of Operations with the 33rd Infantry ‘Golden Cross’ Division. Served with Kilo Company, Third Battalion 130th Infantry Regiment attached to the U.S. Sixth Army. His division participated in the amphibious assault at Lingayen Gulf in the Battle of Luzon (Battle Dates: January 9, 1945-August 15, 1945). Killed in Action Monday, February 19, 1945 during battle with the Imperial Japanese forces in the Caraballo Mountains on Luzon and buried in the United States Armed Forces Battlefield cemetery, Manila #2 Philippine Islands. He had fought in a previous Combat Operation/New Guinea Campaign (Battle Dates: January 24, 1943-December 31, 1944). After the cessation of hostilities with Japan, his family received his remains for burial, with interment at the Thistlewood Cemetery in Mounds, Illinois. This Soldier, an American Patriot so gallantly gave his life in defense of his country.