World War II Honoree

Leroy Wooley

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Hammond, Indiana

Honored By

Friend

SERVED WITH COMPANY H, 152ND INFANTRY REGIMENT, 38TH INFANTRY DIVISION OF THE U.S. ARMY IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. RECEIVED HIS TRAINING AT CAMP VAN DORN, MISSISSIPPI AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 38TH DIVISION AT CAMP LIVINGSTON, LOUISIANA. WHERE THE DIVISION LEFT FOR THE SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS ON THE USS MONTEREY THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL TO HAWAII AND THEN ON TO NEW GUINEA. WHERE THE DIVISION TRAINED FOR THE LANDING AT BATAAN TO FULFILL GENERAL DOUGLAS MACARTHUR'S PROMISE TO THE PHILIPPINE PEOPLE THAT HE WOULD RETURN. AFTER BATAAN THE 38TH DIVISION MADE LANDINGS AT LEYTE AND LUZON, WHERE A JAPANESE KAMIKAZE PILOT CRASHED INTO THE TROOP SHIP. CAUSING ALL ABOARD THE SHIP TO ABANDON TO THE LIFE BOATS TO MAKE IT TO SHORE. WAS WOUNDED IN ACTION, WHEN A MORTAR EXPLODED NEARBY KILLING 2 IN HIS UNIT. HE RECEIVED THE PURPLE HEART, THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, 3 BATTLE STARS, 3 OVERSEAS BARS AND 1 SERVICE STRIPE. HE SERVED HIS COUNTRY FROM DECEMBER 1942 UNTIL DECEMBER 1945 AND APPLIED TO THE CITY OF HAMMOND, INDIANA POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR APPOINTMENT AND SERVED HIS COMMUNITY.