World War II Honoree

Wilbur 'Porky' Harmon

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Cushing, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SERVED AS AN INFANTRYMAN OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER, IN THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA, IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, WITH THE 40TH INFANTRY 'SUNSHINE' DIVISION. PARTICIPATED IN COMBAT OPERATIONS IN THE SOUTHERN PHILIPPINE ISLANDS ON MINDANAO. THE BATTLE FOR MINDANAO REQUIRED HIM TO FIGHT BOTH THE JAPANESE, AND THE INHOSPITABLE JUNGLE TERRAIN AND INCESSANT RAIN. THERE WAS A RECURRING THREAT FROM ENEMY AIRPLANES AND ONE NIGHT THERE WAS AN AIR ATTACK WHEN ENEMY BOMBS RAINED DOWN ON HIS UNIT. HIS UNIT WAS ABOARD A TRANSPORT SHIP AWAITING THE INVASION OF JAPAN, WHEN THE ATOMIC BOMBS WERE DROPPED ON JAPAN AND THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT ACCEPTED THE ALLIED UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER TERMS, AND THE WAR CAME TO A CLOSE. HE AND OTHER MEMBERS OF HIS UNIT WERE DELIRIOUSLY HAPPY AND THANKFUL THAT THE PLANNED INVASION NEVER WAS NECESSARY. AFTER THE END OF HOSTILITIES, HIS UNIT WAS SENT TO PUSAN, KOREA AS AN OCCUPATION FORCE. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.