World War II Honoree

Paul Charles Powers

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Cahokia, Illinois

Honored By

Ms. Rose Powers Somraty

Relationship

Niece

TECHNICIAN FOURTH GRADE. BEGAN SERVICE IN THE TERRITORY OF HAWAII AT SCHOFIELD BARRACKS. SERVED JANUARY 6, 1941 TO JULY 30, 1945. SERVED WITH THE SERVICE AND AMMUNITION BATTERY, 8TH FIELD ARTILLERY AND THEN 64TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION, 25TH 'TROPICAL LIGHTNING' INFANTRY DIVISION. STATIONED AT SCHOFIELD BARRACKS AT WHEELER FIELD, NEAR BATTLESHIP ROW AT PEARL HARBOR ON THE MORNING OF DECEMBER 7, 1941. FOLLOWING THE ATTACK, THE 25TH DIVISION DEFENDED THE SOUTH SECTOR OF THE OAHU ISLAND AGAINST ANOTHER POSSIBLE JAPANESE LAND ATTACK AND TRAINED FOR JUNGLE WARFARE. IN NOVEMBER 1942, THE 25TH DIVISION WAS DEPLOYED ON GUADALCANAL IN THE FIRST AMERICAN OFFENSIVE BATTLE. JULY 1943, SENT TO THE SOLOMON ISLANDS WITH ATTACKS ON NEW GEORGIA, VELLA LAVELLA AND KOLOMBANGARA. SENT BACK TO GUADALCANAL AND THEN TO NEW ZEALAND AND FINALLY TO NEW CALEDONIA DURING FEBRUARY 1944, WHERE TRAINING TOOK PLACE IN PREPARATION FOR THE PHILIPPINES CAMPAIGN. JANUARY 11, 1945, LANDED ON LUZON PHILIPPINES, WHERE THE DIVISION WAS CREDITED FOR 165 DAYS OF CONTINUOUS COMBAT INCLUDING THE BATTLE OF LUPAO. COMPLETED MOTOR MECHANIC'S COURSE AND APPRENTICED OCTOBER 18, 1941 AT SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, TERRITORY OF HAWAII. RECEIVED DRIVER-W AND DRIVER-T BADGE. RECEIVED PISTOL AND RIFLE BADGE. PROMOTED IN JUNE 1942 FROM PRIVATE SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS TO TECHNICIAN FIFTH GRADE AND IN JULY 1942 FROM TECHNICIAN 5TH GRADE TO TECHNICIAN FOURTH GRADE. AWARDED 7 BRONZE BATTLE STARS, 7 OVERSEAS SERVICE BARS AND 1 SERVICE STRIPE. RECEIVED THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER RIBBON WITH 4 BRONZE BATTLE STARS, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON WITH 1 BRONZE BATTLE STAR AND THE AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE RIBBON WITH 1 BRONZE STAR IN LIEU OF CLASP. RECEIVED THE ARMY PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION RIBBON, THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL, ARMY MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION SERVICE MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND ARMY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL. ALSO RECEIVED STATE OF ILLINOIS SERVICE RECOGNITION CERTIFICATE IN SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, 1947. COMMENDATIONS INCLUDE GUADALCANAL COMMENDATION LETTER FROM LIEUTENANT COLONEL WILLIAM H. ALLEN, JR., COMMANDING OFFICER DATED 2/21/43 AND COMMENDATION LETTER FOR REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM FOR CAPTURE OF LUPAO FROM MAJOR GENERAL INNIS P. SWIFT. MAJOR GENERAL J. LAWTON COLLINS, 12/17/43 WROTE LETTER OF APPRECIATION TO THE 25TH DIVISION FOR SACRIFICES AND LOYALTY FOLLOWING GUADALCANAL BATTLES. MAJOR GENERAL C. L. MULLINS, JR. 2/13/45, WROTE LETTER OF CONGRATULATIONS AND COMMENDATION FOR BRAVERY DISPLAYED BY ALL RANKS IN THE PHILIPPINE BATTLES.