World War II Honoree

Nosreay John Bayouth

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

VOLUNTEERED FOR PARATROOPER TRAINING AND SATISFACTORILY COMPLETED THE PRESCRIBED PROFICIENCY TEST WHILE ASSIGNED TO AN AIRBORNE UNIT. HE WAS AWARDED HIS SILVER BASIC PARACHUTIST BADGE. THE 1ST BATTALION OF THE 551ST PARACHUTE INFANTRY REGIMENT (PIR) WAS ACTIVATED ON NOVEMBER 26, 1942, AT FORT KOBBE IN THE PANAMA CANAL ZONE. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO COMPANY C, 1ST BATTALION, 551ST PIR, A SEPARATE (NONDIVISIONAL) UNIT. HIS UNIT ARRIVED IN ITALY ABOUT JUNE, 1944. HE SERVED AS A PARACHUTIST OVERSEAS IN THE PANAMA CANAL ZONE IN THE AMERICAN THEATER, AND LATER IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER, INCLUDING IN THE MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (MTOUSA), AND EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS (ETO) DURING THE WAR. THE BATTALION ASSAULTED SOUTHERN FRANCE ON AUGUST 15, 1944, UNDER THE 1ST AIRBORNE TASK FORCE AND MOVED INTO BELGIUM WHERE IT WAS ATTACHED TO THE 82ND AIRBORNE 'ALL AMERICAN' DIVISION FROM DECEMBER 26, 1944-JANUARY 13, 1945, AND FROM JANUARY 21-27, 1945, DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE. HIS BATTALION PARTICIPATED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER, ROME-ARNO, SOUTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND, AND ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE) CAMPAIGNS. THE BATTALION WAS INACTIVATED ON FEBRUARY 10, 1945, IN EUROPE BEFORE THE END OF HOSTILITIES. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, COMBAT PARACHUTIST BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH ARROWHEAD DEVICE, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HIS BATTALION WAS AWARDED THE FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH GOLD STAR FOR ACTIONS AT DRAGUIGNAN, IN SOUTHEASTERN FRANCE. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.