World War II Honoree

James A. 'Jim' Alspaugh

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

DRAFTED INTO MILITARY SERVICE IN 1943, WHILE IN COLLEGE. SELECTED FOR THE ARMY SPECIALIZED TRAINING PROGRAM (ASTP) AND ATTENDED HEIDELBERG UNIVERSITY. WHEN IT WAS CALCULATED THAT MORE INFANTRYMEN WOULD BE REQUIRED IN ADVANCE OF THE PLANNED INVASION OF EUROPE, ASTP STUDENTS BEGAN TO BE TRANSFERRED TO COMBAT UNITS TO MEET PROJECTED MANPOWER DEMANDS. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 102ND INFANTRY 'OZARK' DIVISION AND SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER DURING THE WAR, WITH DUTIES IN THE COMMUNICATIONS FIELD. HE WAS SERIOUSLY WOUNDED IN ACTION ON DECEMBER 11, 1944, NEAR LINNICH, GERMANY. HE SUSTAINED SHRAPNEL WOUNDS FROM GERMAN GUNS AS HE WAS TRYING TO REPAIR A WIRE PHONE LINE. HE WAS AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL FOR VALOR FOR REFUSING AID UNTIL HE HAD REPAIRED THE LINE. HE WAS MEDICALLY EVACUATED TO A HOSPITAL, TREATED, AND RETURNED FOR DUTY WITH HIS UNIT ON APRIL 28, 1945, JUST A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT ACCEPTED THE UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER TERMS ON MAY 7, 1945. PARTICIPATED IN THE RHINELAND, AND CENTRAL EUROPE CAMPAIGNS. ALSO AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART FOR WOUNDS SUSTAINED, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS (2 CAMPAIGNS), WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH ‘GERMANY’ CLASP. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.