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Campbell, John, Jr. (134th Infantry Regiment)

    Date of birth:
    September 19th, 1913 (Chicago/Illinois, United States)
    Date of death:
    December 29th, 1995 (Anniston-Calhoun County/Alabama, United States)
    Buried on:
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Service number:
    01 325 554/0 43 649
    Nationality:
    American

    Biography

    John Campbell Jr. was born on September 19th, 1913 as son to John and Rachel Campbell. He served a three year tour with the U.S. Army between 1932 and 1935. With the opening of World War Two he was again called on to serve.

    After a training at the Officer Candidate School, he served as a Platoon Leader and later as Company Commander with 134th Infantry Regiment in Europe. He took part in the battles in Normandy and the Ardennes. He was wounded at Saint Lo and near Bastogne.

    In 1942 he married Mary Elizabeth Lush and retired as a Colonel in 1967 at Weaver, Alabama.
    John Campbell Jr. died on December 29th, 1995 and was buried at Arlington.

    John Campbell also received the Legion of Merit, National Defence Service Medal with oak leaf cluster and the Army of Occupation Medal with "GERMANY" clasp and was entitled to wear the Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon.

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    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    1st Lieutenant
    Unit:
    Company L, 134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division "Santa Fe", U.S. Army
    Awarded on:
    September 29th, 1944
    Citation:
    "For gallantry in action in the Vire River sector, France 27 July 1944. When Company L, 134th Infantry, was unable to continue its advance because of fire from an enemy machine gun, Lieutenant Campbell, a platoon leader, sent a squad to the left flank of the enemy emplacement in an attempt to destroy it. Since the squad was unable to bring flanking fire upon the enemy emplacement, Lieutenant Campbell, armed only with hand grenades, crawled to the enemy’s right flank where he threw two grenades which destroyed the gun, killed its crew and enabled Company L to continue its advance. The gallantry in action on the part of Lieutenant Campbell, his courage and zeal for the accomplishment of his unit’s mission, reflect the highest credit upon his character as an officer and upon the military service."

    Headquarters 35th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 38 (29 September 1944).
    Silver Star Medal (SSM)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    1st Lieutenant
    Unit:
    Company L, 134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division "Santa Fe", U.S. Army
    Awarded on:
    November 17th, 1944
    Purple Heart
    For wounds received in action on 21 July 1944 in Normandie, France.

    Headquarters 35th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 52 (17 November 1944).
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Awarded for a wound received on January 2nd, 1945 near Lutrebois, community of Bastogne.

    Second Purple Heart received in the form of a bronze oak leaf cluster to be worn on the ribbon of the first Purple Heart.
    Purple Heart
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Awarded with clasp.
    American Campaign Medal
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Awarded with 5 bronze campaign stars (or 1 silver) for the campaigns "NORMANDY", "NORTHERN FRANCE", "ARDENNES", "RHINELAND" and "CENTRAL EUROPE".
    European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal

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