World War II Honoree

Stanley Otto 'Stan' Hess

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Anadarko, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE IN 1943. SERVED OVERSEAS IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER, INCLUDING IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, WITH THE 32ND INFANTRY 'RED ARROW' DIVISION. HIS DIVISION LANDED AT LINGAYEN GULF, ON LUZON IN THE PHILIPPINES ON JANUARY 27, 1945 TO BEGIN THE FINAL PHASE OF THE ASSAULT ON MANILA. HIS UNIT SEIZED SAN NICOLAS ON FEBRUARY 1, 1945. HE PARTICIPATED IN AND SURVIVED OPERATIONS IN THE BATTLE OF THE VILLA VERDE TRAIL DURING THE PERIOD FEBRUARY 6-22, 1945. FIGHTING ALONG THE TRAIL WAS INTENSE AND INCLUDED REPELLING NUMEROUS JAPANESE COUNTERATTACKS. THE DIVISION FOUGHT BATTLES AT SALACSAC PASS AND ALONG THE ARBOREDO AND AMBAYANG VALLEYS IN MARCH, 1945. CLEARING OPERATIONS ALONG THE TRAIL INCLUDED TAKING IMUGAN IN MAY, 1945, AND SECURING THE VITAL BALETE PASS. HIS UNIT ADVANCED FROM ANABAT TO CLEAR JAPANESE DEFENSIVE POSITIONS IN THE SIERRA MADRE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHERN LUZON, SECURE THE AGNO RIVER VALLEY, AND OPEN HIGHWAY 11 IN THE BAGUIO AREA. HIS DIVISION WAS ENGAGED IN CLEARING OPERATIONS IN THE BAGUIO AREA WHEN THE WAR ENDED. THE DIVISION MOVED TO JAPAN IN OCTOBER, 1945, WHERE IT SERVED WITH OCCUPATION FORCES. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, AND ARMY OF OCCUPATION MEDAL WITH 'JAPAN' CLASP. AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR SERVICE BY HIS DIVISION IN THE WAR AGAINST JAPAN DURING THE PERIOD OCTOBER 17, 1944 TO JULY 4, 1945. ALSO AWARDED THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL FOR SERVICE IN THE LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES. HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN 1946, WITH THE RANK OF FIRST LIEUTENANT AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.