Capt. John D. Garrett, O-1183855

Capt. John D. Garrett, O-1183855, US Army. He was born Feb. 23, 1912, in Beaver, Oklahoma and lived in Lawton, Oklahoma. He attended Lawton High School and Cameron Jr, College. He volunteered for service on Nov. 29, 1942 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He then received training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Camp Van Dorn, Mississippi, and left for Europe from Camp Shanks, New York.

He first served in the 63rd Infantry Division, in the Division Artillery  HQ at Camp Van Dorn, Miss. then he transferred to the Service Battery 861st Field Artillery battalion, 63rd Infantry Division on Aug 28, 1944. He served in C Battery, 861st Field Artillery Battalion, 63rd Infantry Division from September 12, 1944 and served with them until May 17, 1945, when he transferred to B Battery, 861st Field Artillery Battalion, 63rd Infantry Division. On July 3, 1945 he transferred out of the 63rd Infantry Division to the 100th Infantry Division. Lieutenant Garrett served in the ETO with the 63rd Infantry Division 7th Army, as Artillery Forward Observer with the C Battery, 861st Field Artillery Battalion participating in the battles of the Rhineland and Central Europe.

On April 8, 1945 he earned his Bronze Star Medal when he was serving as a Field Artillery forward observer he accompanied the leading infantry elements in the attack on a ridge near Stine Germany. Although enemy artillery mortar and small arms fire was intense, he adjusted accurate artillery fire on enemy positions, enabling the infantry to take its objective with a minimum of casualties. He was also wounded in action on April 8, 1945

He was at the 127th Hospital, in Nancy, France, 1st General Hospital , Paris, France, McCloskey General Hospital, Temple, Texas., Brooks General Hospital, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and Brigham General Hospital, Utah. He was placed on inactive duty June 23, 1946. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with V, the Purple Heart Medal, The American Theater of operations Medal, the European Theater of Operations Medal ETO with 2 battle stars, the World War Two Victory Medal, and the Army of Occupation Medal.

 

63rd Infantry Division General Order 421

63rd Infantry Division Records

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