World War II Honoree

James A. Woolard

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Shelbyville, Indiana

Honored By

Ronald K. Woolard

Relationship

Son

He proudly served the United States Army. He enlisted and was activated August 20, 1942 when he was stationed as Camp White, Oregon on September 12, 1942. He was assigned to the 240th Field Artillery Battalion. The 240th Field Artillery battalion was a separate Battalion of the Army Ground Forces Command, functioning as an Artillery Unit. During basic training, the Battalion traveled stateside to several camps throughout the United States for field exercises. On June 19, 1944 the 240th Battalion was alerted for overseas movement and departed on June 21st from Camp Shanks, New York on the Queen Elizabeth (a troop carrier ship that also consisted of the Glenn Miller Band with Ray McKinley as the conductor). The 240th firing battery personnel manned the anti-aircraft guns on deck of the Queen Elizabeth during the voyage, which was uneventful. His service to his country took him several places. On 6/28/44 the 240th Battalion arrived in Glasgow, Scotland. The tour of duty then led to Camp Gatacre; Shropshire, England (6/20/44), Camp Bulwark; Chepstow, Monouthshire, England (7/17/44), Marashalling Area; Southampton, England (8/7/44), Utah Beach, France (8/10/44), St. Germaine Varriella, France (8/10/44), St. Mere Eglise, France, (8/18/44), Mortree, France Frenaux, France (8/25/44), Frenaux, France Les Moileres, France (8/26/44), Bondy, France (8/30/44), Beauvais, France (9/1/44), Tracy le Mont (9/2/44), Aubigny, France (9/6/44), Monastery d la Trappe, Belgium (9/8/44), Gulpen, Holland (9/18/44), Schaesberg, Holland (9/19/44), Heerlen, Holland (9/23/44), Hommert, Holland (9/29/44), Breinigerberg, Germany (10/10/44), Ober Forstbach, Germany (10/15/44), Aachen, Germany (10/16/44), Brand, Germany (11/8/44), Stolberg, Germany (11/24/44), Stolberg, Germany (12/24/44), Ernonheid, Belgium (12/24/44), Chevron, Belgium (1/3/44), Cronchamps, Belgium (1/12/45), Malmedy, Belgium (1/18/45), Angleur, Belgium, (2/1/45), Germeter, Germany (2/9/45), Drove, Germany (3/2/45), Borr, Germany (3/4/45), Muggenhausen, Germany (3/7/45), Fritzdorf, Germany (3/8/45), Bodendorf, Germany (3/17/45), Ohlenberg, Germany (3/19/45), Ober Riden, Germany (3/26/45), Sessenhausen, Germany (3/27/45), Waldrenbach, Germany (3/28/45), Strausebach, Germany (3/28/45), Hallenberg, Germany (4/4/45), Langewiese, Germany (4/6/45), Gleidorf, Germany (4/9/45), Ober Landenbach, Germany (4/11/45), Stockum, Germany (4/13/45), Ober Scheinfeld, Germany (4/19/45), Ketteldorf, Germany (4/24/45), Graffenberg, Germany (4/25/45), Pfahldorf, Germany (4/25/45), Stamham, Germany (4/26/45), Ober Dolling, Germany (4/27/45), Mainburg, Germany (4/29/45), Ober Munchen, Germany (4/29/45), Schwarzersdorf, Germany (4/30/45), Thann, Germany (5/1/45), Unter-Hausebach, Germany (5/1/45), Feucht, Germany (5/11/45), Metz, France (7/2/45), Camp Calas; Marseille, France (9/2/45), United States (10/1/45). The official deactivation of the 240th Field Artillery Battalion, he served three years, one month and 13 days of service to his country.