World War II Honoree

Garth William Wilber

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Bronson, Michigan

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

Relationship

Relationship Not Determined

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE AFTER GRADUATING FROM HIGH SCHOOL IN 1942. SERVED IN THE AMERICAN THEATER FOR BASIC INDIVIDUAL TRAINING, ENLISTED SPECIALTY TRAINING, AND UNIT TRAINING AT GEIGER ARMY AIR FIELD, AT SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. HIS BATTALION SAILED FROM THE SAN FRANCISCO PORT OF EMBARKATION ON MAY 7, 1943, AND ARRIVED IN AUSTRALIA ON MAY 22, 1943. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER WITH THE 863RD ENGINEER AVIATION BATTALION DURING THE WAR. LANDED IN NEW GUINEA, IN THE WEST CENTRAL PACIFIC OCEAN ON AUGUST 5, 1943. LANDED AT BIAK ISLAND, OFF THE NORTHWEST COAST OF NEW GUINEA ON JUNE 8, 1944. LANDED IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS ON DECEMBER 21, 1944. PARTICIPATED IN THE NEW GUINEA, LEYTE, AND LUZON CAMPAIGNS. HIS BATTALION WAS LOCATED AT MANILA IN THE PHILIPPINES ON AUGUST 14, 1945, WHEN THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT ACCEPTED THE ALLIED UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER TERMS. THE JAPANESE FORMALLY SURRENDERED ON BOARD THE AMERICAN BATTLESHIP USS MISSOURI (BB-63) IN TOKYO BAY, JAPAN ON SEPTEMBER 2, 1945, AND PRESIDENT TRUMAN PROCLAIMED VICTORY OVER JAPAN (V-J DAY). AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE SERVICE STARS (3 CAMPAIGNS), AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.