World War II Honoree

T. N. 'Pat' Rainbolt

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Cordell, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

GRADUATED FROM WENTWORTH MILITARY ACADEMY IN LEXINGTON, MISSOURI. WORKED AT CONSOLIDATED AIRCRAFT WITH DUTIES HIRING PRODUCTION WORKERS FOR MANUFACTURING B-24 'LIBERATOR' HEAVY BOMBER AIRCRAFT, AND PBY 'CATALINA' LONG RANGE FLYING BOATS, USED FOR PATROL AND BOMBER MISSIONS. HE WAS ALSO ENGAGED IN LIAISON ACTIVITIES BETWEEN CONSOLIDATED AND THE BUREAU OF NAVAL AFFAIRS TO ASSURE THAT KEY EMPLOYEES AT CONSOLIDATED HAD VALID SECURITY CLEARANCES. HE ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE IN 1943. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER DURING THE WAR, WITH THE 1395TH ENGINEER CONSTRUCTION BATTALION. PARTICIPATED IN THE RYUKYUS CAMPAIGN. STATIONED ON GUADALCANAL IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS, ESPIRITU SANTO ISLAND IN THE NEW HEBRIDES ISLANDS, NEW CALEDONIA ISLAND IN THE SOUTH WESTERN PACIFIC OCEAN ON THE NORTHEASTERN APPROACH TO AUSTRALIA, AND OKINAWA IN THE RYUKYU ISLANDS. HE WAS ON OKINAWA IN AUGUST, 1944, WHEN THE JAPANESE ACCEPTED THE ALLIED UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER TERMS. ALSO STATIONED ON NEW GUINEA, AND ON SAIPAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS DURING THE WAR. AFTER THE END OF HOSTILITIES, SERVED WITH OCCUPATION FORCES AT INCHON, KOREA. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH ‘JAPAN’ CLASP. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1946, AS A SENIOR NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER (NCO) AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.