World War II Honoree

Thomas Whitman 'Tom' Fentem, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENLISTED IN MILITARY SERVICE IN 1942. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER WITH THE 6TH MARINE 'STRIKING SIXTH' DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN COMBAT OPERATIONS ON OKINAWA IN THE RYUKYU ISLANDS. HIS DIVISION'S DRIVE CAPTURED MOST OF NORTHERN OKINAWA IN FAST-PACED OPERATIONS. ENGAGED IN COMBAT AT YAE-TAKE, AND AT THE SUGAR LOAF HILL COMPLEX WHICH INCLUDED 3 HILLS FORMING THE WESTERN PART OF THE SHURI LINE. THE 6TH DIVISION WAS WITHDRAWN FROM OKINAWA IN JULY, 1945, TO GUAM IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS TO PREPARE FOR THE INVASION OF JAPAN. AFTER THE END OF THE WAR, HIS DIVISION WAS SENT TO TSINGTAO, IN NORTHERN CHINA IN SEPTEMBER, 1945, TO RECEIVE THE SURRENDER OF JAPANESE FORCES THERE. AWARDED THE COMBAT ACTION RIBBON; NAVY PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN ACTION BY HIS DIVISION DURING THE ASSAULT AND CAPTURE OF OKINAWA, DURING THE PERIOD FROM APRIL 1-JUNE 21, 1945; CHINA SERVICE MEDAL; AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL; ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL; AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN NOVEMBER, 1945, WITH THE RANK OF CAPTAIN AND ISSUED THE WWII HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN. SUBSEQUENTLY PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF MAJOR.