World War II Honoree

Tom R. Pleasant

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Hills, Iowa

Honored By

Col. Clarke Barnes, USMC (Ret)

Relationship

Stepson

WHEN DRAFTED HE WAS WORKING ON HEAVY CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ALASKA HELPING TO BUILD THE AL-CAN HIGHWAY. HE HAD TO GET PERMISSION FROM THE PROVOST OF ALASKA TO RETURN TO IOWA TO ANSWER HIS DRAFT NOTICE. HE SERVED WITH 442ND COMBAT ENGINEERS IN THE PACIFIC THEATER. HE WAS IN NEW GUINEA AND ON MANY OTHER ISLANDS. SURVIVED TWO OCCASIONS WHEN TRANSPORT SHIPS WERE SUNK ON WHICH HE WAS BEING MOVED TO A NEW LOCATION. ON ONE OF THOSE OCCASIONS HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR SAVING THE LIVES OF MANY WHO WERE PERISHING IN THE SEA. DECEASED JANUARY 20, 1987.