World War II Honoree

John L. Pederson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

California

Honored By

John L. Pederson

ENTERED THE ARMY ON MARCH 4, 1944 AT FORT DIX, NEW JERSEY. TOOK BASIC TRAINING IN THE TRANSPORTATION CORPS AT CAMP PLAUCHE, LOUISIANA. TOOK ADVANCED TRAINING AT CAMP GORDON JOHNSON, FLORIDA. ON OCTOBER 23, 1944, ENTERED CLASS 408 IN THE INFANTRY SCHOOL AT FORT BENNING, GEORGIA. GRADUATED AS A 2ND LIEUTENANT ON FEBRUARY 14, 1945. WENT TO CAMP CROFT, SOUTH CAROLINA AS A PLATOON LEADER AND COMPANY EXECUTIVE OFFICER GIVING BASIC INFANTRY TRAINING TO NEW RECRUITS UNTIL JUNE 1945. WAS SENT OVERSEAS AS A REPLACEMENT OFFICER TO GET THE DIVISIONS UP TO FULL STRENGTH FOR THE COMING INVASION OF JAPAN, ARRIVING IN THE PHILIPPINES IN SEPTEMBER 1945. WHEN WAR ENDED, WAS ASSIGNED TO AN ENGINEERING DEPOT NEAR TACLOBAN, LEYTE. SERVED THERE FOR A YEAR AND WAS DISCHARGED AS A 1ST LIEUTENANT AT FORT DIX, NEW JERSEY IN OCTOBER 1946.