Bussey American Legion Post #505: World War II Veterans

Pvt. Herman L Shilling

Entered service August 23, 1942. Overseas October 9, 1942, Juneau, Alaska. Returned March 4, 1943 to Barnes General Hospital, Vancouver, Washington. Discharged April 3, 1943.

Sgt. Dale Martin Sims, Army Air Corps

Entered service May 27, 1944. Served at Sheppard Field, Tx, Lowery Field, Chathan Field, Georgia, Walla Walla, Washington. Discharged May 13, 1946. In service 2 years, 4 months.

George J Sims Jr., S 1/c

Entered service June 8, 1945. Boot training San Diego, Ca. Still in service Corpus Christi, Texas.

Pfc. Alvin D. Smith, Infantry 34th Div.

Entered service June 5, 1944. Overseas Italy. Decorations: Purple Heart. Returned to States January 23, 1945. In service 20 months.

Bobbie James Smith, EM 3/c

Entered service March 27, 1944 Des Moines. Basic Training at Farragut, Idaho. Assigned to troop transport U.S.S Celeburne, P.A. 73. Duty in Pacific Area. Received Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon. Discharged June 29, 1944 Minneapolis, Mn.

James Junior Smith, S 1/c

Entered service May 5, 1944, Great Lakes, Illinois. Overseas on Pavlic A.P.D. 70 February 4, 1945. Pavlic Navy’s famed “Picket Line” of Okinawa, first to enter Tokyo Bay. Decorations: 4 Campaign Ribbons, 2 bronze stars. Discharged January 22, 1946. In service 21 months.

John A. Smith, G.M. 2/c

Entered service March 4, 1942. Assigned to ship Klip Fountain 18 months, 2 years on U.S.S. DeGrosse with 3rd fleet taking 38 trips across the equator and was in 5 invasions. Overseas, Magino, Saipan, Tinian, Okinawa, Iwo Jima and Oppewa Islands. Decorations: Good Conduct, Asiatic-Pacific with 3 battle stars. Discharged September 18, 1945.

Capt. Lawrence S. Smith (KIA)

Entered service, January 23, 1942. Received Pilot Wings at Brooks Field, San Antonio, Tx. Was instructor until February 15, 1945 when he was sent overseas to the Mariana Islands and Iwo Jima. Missing on mission to Osaka, Japan June 11, 1945 flying a P-51 escorting B-29 Bomber. Declared dead June 2, 1945.

1st Lieut. Lyle P. Smith

Entered service June 14, 1942. Received Pilot Wings March 9, 1943 at Luke Field, Phoenix, Az. Appointed instructor at Luke and William’s Field until June 1, 1945. Then was awaiting overseas order at Ontario, Ca when war ended. Discharged January 21, 1946.

Pfc. Marlan W. Smith, 37678650, Co. I, 149th Inf. Regt, 38th Div.

Entered service October 7, 1943. Overseas Asiatic-Pacific Area, New Guinea, Leyte, Luzon. Decorations: Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon, 3 battle stars, 1 Arrowhead, Good Conduct, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Combat Infantry Badge. Discharged November 4, 1945.

1st Lieut. Warren E. Smith

Entered service January 31, 1943. Received Pilot’s Wings at Pecos, Tx May 23, 1944. Overseas June 1944, E.T.O, where he flew C-47s carrying Airborne Troops in the invasion of Holland, also C-46s towing gliders across the Rhine. Was there 13 months until August 14, 1945. Still in service at San Antonio, Texas.

Pfc. Jennings B. Snelson

Entered service March 29, 1941. Basic training at Camp Grant, Illinois. Spent 18 months as ward boy at the Mayo General Hospital, Galesburg, Illinois. Discharged September 18, 1945 at Ft. Custer, Michigan, 4 years, 6 months of service.

William C Snyder

Entered service October 16, 1939. Was a cook and baker. Overseas July 24, 1943, Africa, Italian-Algerian Campaign. Returned to States August 16, 1944. Decorations: E.A.M.E. Ribbon with 2 bronze stars, American Defense, Good Conduct. Discharged October 11, 1945. In service 6 years.

Pfc. Harold Lee Spaur, U.S. Marines 555-143

Entered service June 27, 1944, San Diego, Ca. Overseas December 14, 1944, Okinawa, Ryukyus Islands, Occupation of China, 1st Marines till August 9, 1946. Decorations: Asiatic-Pacific, 2 battle stars, Presidential Unit Citation, 1 star, Navy Citation, Victory Medal, Chinese Occupation. Discharged August 17, 1946, 26 months in service.

Sgt. Rex H. Spaur, Army Air Force

Entered service May 21, 1943 at Des Moines, Iowa. Basic Training in Jefferson Barracks, Mo. A. M. School, Gulf Port, Mississippi. Factory School, Santa Monica, Ca. P.W. Airplane Engine School, Hartford, Conn. Discharged February 21, 1946, Jefferson Barracks, Mo, 3 years, 3 months service.

Pfc. Raymond R. Stilwell, 337th Military Police Escort Guard Co.

Entered service March 26, 1942 at Ft. Des Moines, Iowa. Basic training at Ft. Riley, Ks. Served in the States at Camp Livingston, Louisiana and Roswell, New Mexico. Discharged at Roswell August 12, 1943. 17 months in service.

Pfc. Burton W. Talbot, 4th A.A.F. Photo Sqdn.

Entered service August 11, 1942. Overseas, New Guinea, Philippines, Korea. Returned December 15, 1945. Discharged January 27, 1946. 40 months in service.

Donald D. Talbot, Seebee, Carpenter Mate, 1/c

Entered service April 7, 1943. Overseas, Saipan, Tinian, Oahu, Marshalls, Tianin. Returned to States October 20, 1945. Discharged November 4, 1945 at Minneapolis, Mn. In the service 31 months.

Robert Lee Trinkle, A.O.M. 1/c, Navy Air Force, VC-58

Entered service August 27, 1942 at San Diego, Ca. Overseas aboard the U.S.S. Care, U.S.S. Black Island, U.S.S. Wake Island, U.S.S. Guadalcanal in North Atlantic. Decorations: Air Medal, European-African with 1 star. Returned to States March 3, 1945. Discharged October 17, 1945. In service 37 months, 20 days.

S/Sgt. William Ray Trinkle, 5th A.F., 675th Bomb Sqdn.

Entered service June 22, 1942. Overseas, New Guinea, Dutch East Indies, Philippines, Luzon. Decorations: Air Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters, Purple Heart, Philippines Liberation with 2 bronze stars, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign with 2 stars. Returned to States February 27, 1945. Discharged September 29, 1945. In service 39 months, 7 days.