World War II Honoree

George Harvey Wallace

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Fruitland, Idaho

Honored By

Mr. James Ewing Wallace

Relationship

Son

SERVED IN 148TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION, 112TH REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM, C BATTERY. ENTERED ACTIVE DUTY FEBRUARY 4, 1941 BEING CALLED FROM THE IDAHO NATIONAL GUARD. AS A 2ND LIEUTENANT HE WAS A MOTOR OFFICER. AS A 1ST LIEUTENANT HE WAS ORIGINALLY AN EXECUTIVE OFFICER, LATER A RECONNAISSANCE OFFICER AND THEN A FORWARD OBSERVER. AS A CAPTAIN, HE WAS A FIELD ARTILLERY BATTERY COMMANDER. SUPERVISED THE ADMINISTRATION , SUPPLY AND TACTICAL FUNCTION OF 110 MEN AND 4 OFFICERS IN THE EAST INDIES, BISMARCK-ARCHIPELAGO, LUZON GO 33 WD45, NEW GUINEA GO 58 WD45 AND JAPAN. RESPONSIBLE FOR SUPPLY AND EQUIPMENT. DIRECTED AND PERSONALLY CONDUCTED RECONNAISSANCE TO DETERMINE POSITIONS OF BATTERY UNITS. SUPERVISED TARGETS AND AMMUNITION ALLOTMENTS WERE AND MAINTAINED LIAISON WITH BATTALION AND FORWARD OBSERVERS. SUPERVISED MAINTENANCE OF RECORDS AND COMPLETING REPORTS. AS MAJOR HE WAS A FIELD ARTILLERY OFFICER, STAFF. DIRECTED THE PREPARATION OF REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE FOR FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION. SUPERVISED MAINTENANCE OF SERVICE RECORDS, ROSTERS, PAYROLLS AND MORNING REPORTS. PREPARED AND AUTHENTICATED ORDERS. CONDUCTED LIAISON WITH INFANTRY UNITS BEING SUPPORTED BY THE ARTILLERY AND CONDUCTED PERIODIC INSPECTIONS OF BATTALION TO DETERMINE CONDITION OF MEN, EQUIPMENT AND STATUS OF TRAINING. DEPARTED FOR AUSTRALIA ON NOVEMBER 22, 1941 FROM SAN FRANCISCO. SPENT TIME AT PEARL HARBOR AND LEFT FOR AUSTRALIA ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR. ARRIVING AT DARWIN, AUSTRALIA HIS SHIP, THE USS PORTER WAS BOMBED AND SUNK BY THE JAPANESE. ONE YEAR, 4 MONTHS AND 4 DAYS OF CONTINENTAL SERVICE AND 3 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AND 20 DAYS OF FOREIGN SERVICE. DECORATED WITH THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER RIBBON WITH 4 BRONZE SERVICE STARS, PHILIPPINES LIBERATION RIBBON WITH 1 BRONZE SERVICE STAR AND THE AMERICAN DEFENSE MEDAL WITH FOREIGN SERVICE CLASP.