The Fighting Men of Texas
Navarro County, Texas Extracts
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RM 2/c Fred Kesinger, Jr., born Oct 31, 1925, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kesinger, Sr., 205 Hardy Ave., Corsicana.  He attended Corsicana High School, volunteered for service June 24, 1943, and was assigned to Navy Radio School; trained at San Diego, Calif., Oceanside, and San Bruno, Calif.  Served in the States 13 months, and overseas, in Pacific Area Feb., 1944, to Dec., 1945, in battles of Leyte and Samar, P.I.  Awards: Commendation for outstanding work in the Beach Party, "Baker" on Leyte and Samar, P.I.  He was returned overseas as RM2/c on USS, LSM-353 spending some time in dry dock, Pearl Harbor, preparing for trip to China.  Was discharged Oct. 31, 1946.

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• Biographyy in The Men and Women in WWII from Navarro County, TX

2nd Lt. John J. McColpin, born Dec. 18, 1923, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. J. McColpin, 1800 Woodlawn St., Corsicana, educated at Robert E. Lee Grammar, Corsicana High School, and Univ. of Texas, Austin.  Volunteered for service on Feb 23, 1943, at San Antonio, was assigned to the Army 9th Air Force, served in the U.S. for 20, and overseas 14 months, in England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Ardennes, Rhineland, C. Germany.  He was awarded: Air Medal, 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, E.T.O., 3 Battle Stars.  He was appointed Fight Officer on July 1, 1944; commissioned on March 25, 1945.  2nd Lt. McColpin is still with the Air Force, and stationed at Sheppard Field, Texas.

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• Biography in The Men and Women in WWII from Navarro County, Texas

Son of Mr. and Mrs. G. L. Tatum, Sr., Corsicana.  George was born June 4, 1919, was Civilian Physicist, Naval Ord. Lab. from Feb. 3, 1941, until called to active duty on Nov 11, 1944, and sta. in Ordnance Lab., Navy Yd., Wash., D.C.  Assignments: Design of Degaussing coils, measurment of ships' high frequency acoustic flds., torpedo exploder design and testing.  Returned to civilian job Naval Ord. Lab. Oct. 17, 1945.

Son of Mr. and Mrs. G. L. Tatum, Sr., Corsicana. John was born Dec. 28, 1920, volunteered for Army Air Corps May, 1942; on completion of training served as an instructor at various fields before he transferred overseas and flew "Hump" from Chabua, India, Assam Prov.  Returned to U.S. to be hon. discharged Dec., 1945.

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• John Corley Tatum - Obituary

MoMM3/c Alvis D. Tucker, Jr., born Feb 11, 1926, son of Mr. and Mrs. O. D. Tucker, 2011 W. 14th Ave., Corsicana.  Attended Corsicana High School, entered the service on June 19, 1944, at Dallas, and was assigned to the Navy Amphibious.  Trained at Coronado, San Diego, California, served in the United States for 5 months, and overseas from November, 1944, to July, 1946.  In Southwest Pacific, battles of Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and the Occupation of Japan.  Prior to his enlisting in the Navy, MOMM3/c Tucker was employed as a mechanic.  He was honorably discharged on June 19, 1947, and is at his home.

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• Biography in The Men and Women in WWII from Navarro County, Texas

1st Lt. Wayne A. Melton, born Feb. 17, 1920, son of Mrs. Grace Melton, 1709 Woodlawn St. Corsicana, educated at Sam Houston Grammar, Corsicana High School, and Baylor University, Waco, volunteered on July 1, 1942, and was assigned to the Army 11th Airborne Div. Trained at Ft. Benning, Ga.  Overseas June 7, 1945, in S. Philippine Campaign-Negros Island (503rd Parachute Inf.) Japanese Occupation Forces (11th Airborne Div.).  Awards: Phil, Lib. Medal, 1 Star, Victory, Occupation Medal, A.T.O., Asiatic-Pac., 1 Star.  Qualified Parachutist and Glider Infantryman, he is with 511th Parachute Inf., Philippines.

Av. Cadet John E. Varley, born Nov. 8, 1925, son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Varley, 517 N. 15th St., Corsicana, Texas.  Husband of Joan Frances Varley, 4307 Bellvue Ave., Austin, educated at Sam Houston Grammar, Corsicana High School, and Texas University, Austin.  Volunteered for service on Jan 2, 1945, at Corsicana, and was assigned to the Army Air Corps; trained at Stockton, Calif., Ellensburg, Wash., and San Antonio, Texas, serving in the United States from Jan. 2, 1944, until October 31, 1946.  He was Student Officer 2nd Lt. at Ellensburg, Wash., and S.O. Squad Commander, at S.A.C.C., San Antonio, Texas.  Hon. discharged Oct. 31, 1946.

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• Biography in The Men and Women in WWII from Navarro County, Texas

M/Sgt. Monroe Wood, born June 26, 1921, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Wood, 600 N. Commerce St., Corsicana, husband of Freida G. Wood, formerly of Corsicana and now of Hays, Kansas, entered the service on Nov 15, 1939, at Dallas, and was assigned to the Army Air Force.  Served in the United States from Nov. 15, 1939, until May 17, 1945; overseas 8 months in New Guinea, Philippines, and Ryukyus, and awarded: American Defense, ATO, Asiatic-Pac., 1 Bronze Star, Philippine Lib., Good Conduct, Victory and Army Commendation.  Discharged and re-enlisted on Dec. 26, 1945, for 3 years.  Now stationed U.S. Recruiting Sta., Ellis County Court House, Hays, Kansas.

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• Biography in The Men and Women in WWII from Navarro County, Texas

T/5 Ira Arnold was born March 19, 1917 in Texas.  Son of Mr. and MRs. C. R. Arnold, Richland, Texas.  Volunteered Jan 30, 1941 at Corsicana, Tex.  Assigned to Army 36th Div., 133 F.F., trained at Camp Bowie, Tex.  Served overseas from April 13, 1943, to Aug. 4, 1945, in Africa and France, in battles of Naples - Foggia, Rome - Arno, S. France, C. Europe, and Rhineland.  Awarded Good Conduct, E. A. M. E. Campaign Ribbon with 5 Bronze Stars, Bronze Arrowhead, American Defense Service Ribbon.  Was discharged August 11, 1945.

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• Biography in The Men and Women in WWII from Navarro County, TX

PVT J. C. Arnold was born March 14, 1914, in Texas.  He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Arnold, Richland, texas.  Husband of Addie Lee Arnold of Richland.  Attended school at Richland, Texas.  Entered Army March 23, 1943, at Dallas, Texas; trained at Camp Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Ellis Illinois.  Served in the United States from March 23, 1943, to December 16, 1943.  Awarded Rifleman's Expert Badge.  Pvt. Arnold received a medical discharge December 16, 1943, at Camp Ellis, Ill.

T/5 Willie Earl Arnold

T/5 Willie Earl Arnold, son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Arnold of Richland, was born Feb. 12, 1925.  Attended school at Richland, Tex.  Entered Army May 4, 1943, assigned to Medical Detachment; trained at Camp Barkeley and Maxey; served overseas from Sept. 9, 1943, to Dec. 26, 1946, in India, Burma and China.  Cared for wounded soldiers in China.  Was with Portable Surgery Hospital.  Awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Ribbon with 3 Bronze Stars, Victory and Good Conduct Medals.  Discharged Dec., 1946.

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• Richland Cemetery

PFC Carl Otis Arnold

PFC Carl Otis Arnold, son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Arnold of Richland, was born March 29, 1922, in Texas.  Attended school in Richland, Tex.  Entered service Oct. 6, 1942, assigned to Detachment of Medical Department, Army Air Base.  Trained at Great Falls and Lewistown, Mont.; served overseas from Jan, 1945, to Feb., 1946, in Canada and Alaska.  Awarded American, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Campaign Ribbons, Good Conduct and Victory Medals, 1 Service Stripe and 2 Overseas Bars.  Stationed now at San Antonio.

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• Biography in The Men and Women in WWII in Navarro County, TX

PFC Floyd Paul Batchelor

PFC Floyd Paul Batchelor, born Dec. 19, 1923, in Okla., son of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Batchelor, Corsicana, Texas.  Attended school at Cayuga.  Volunteered Oct. 22, 1942, assigned to Army Air Force; trained at Miami, Fla., Denver, Colo., Spokane, Wash., and Salina, Kansas.  Served in United States from Oct., 1942, to Jan. 1, 1945; overseas from Jan., 1945, to Aug., 1945.  Received Presidential Citation, Oak Leaf Cluster and Pacific Campaign Ribbon.  Was discharged from further duty September 28, 1945.

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• Biography in The Men and Women in WWII from Navarro County, TX

PFC Hubert Houston Batchelor

PFC Hubert Houston Batchelor, born May 27, 1920, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Batchelor, Corsicana, Tex.  Attended Streetman, Texas, High School.  Volunteered Jan. 1, 1942, assigned to Army Air Force.  Served overseas from Sept. 2, 1942, to Sept. 6, 1945, in Australia, New Guinea, Biak Is. and Philippines.  Awarded Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Presidential Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Ribbon, 7 Battle Stars and Good Conduct Medal.  Received honorable discharge September 11, 1945.

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• Biography in The Men and Women in WWII from Navarro County, TX

T/Sgt Jessie L. Batchelor, Jr.

T/Sgt Jessie L. Batchelor, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Jessie L. Batchelor of Corsicana, Texas, born Oct. 4, 1917, in Okla., attended school at Wilson, Okla.  Volunteered for service with Cavalry, Mar., 1940, at El Paso,  Texas; trained at Ft. Bliss, Tex., Ft. Riley, Kans., and Ft. Knox, Ky.  Overseas July 7, 1944, for 14 months in the break through at St. Lo with 1st Army; transferred, and was with 3rd Army until V.E. day; awarded Presidential Citation and Oak Leaf Cluster.  Was discharged July 16, 1945.

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• Biography in The Men and Women in WWII from Navarro County, TX

M/Sgt. Elmo Lynn Bell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Mack Bell of Corsicana, was born Dec. 1, 1921, in Texas.  Attended Corsicana Schools and Texas A. & M. College, Volunteered Aug. 13, 1942, at Dallas.  Assigned to Signal Corps; trained at Camp Crowder and Camp Murphy; served overseas from January 1, 1944, to February 7, 1946.  M/Sgt. Bell received American Theater, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign and E.T.O. Campaign Ribbons, Good Conduct, and World War II Victory Medals.  Discharged February 15, 1946.

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• Biography in The Men and Women in WWII from Navarro County, TX

T/5 Carl Edwin Perkins

T/5 Carl Edwin Perkins, born Jan. 24, 1921, brother of Mrs. Arthur Boldin, Corsicana, Texas.  Entered Army 104th Timberwolf Inf. Nov. 24, 1942; trained at Camp Adair, Oregon, Camps Hyder, Horn, Granite and Carson.  Served overseas from Aug., 1944, to July, 1945, in France, Holland, Germany, Central Europe and Rhineland.  Awarded American Defense Service, E.A.M.E. Campaign Ribbons, World War II Victory and Good Medals.  Received honorable discharge November 27, 1945.

PFC Joe K. Perkins, born April 7, 1924, brother of Mrs. Arthur Boldin, Corsicana.  Volunteered May 19, 1944; assigned to Army 6th Armored Division; trained at Camp Fannin, Tyler, Tex.  Served overseas from October 3, 1944, to August 5, 1945, in battles of Ardennes and of the Bulge and Central Germany.  Awarded 3 Battle Stars, Combat Infantryman's Badge and Good Conduct Medal.  In hospital from June, 1945, to Feb., 1946, with rheumatic fever.  Received medical discharge February 29, 1946.

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• Joe Keith Perkins - Apr 7, 1924 - Jul 15, 2006
• Obituary

1 St Lt. Charles Theo Boldin, was born Nov. 18, 1916, son of Mrs. Cora Boldin, Purdon, Tex.  Attended John Tarleton College, Stephenville, Tex.  Volunteered Oct., 1941, for Army Air Corps.  Trained at Ellington Field, Houston, Tex., and Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Served overseas from July 19, 1942, to July, 1943, in Australia and New Guinea.  Awarded Air Medal for missing overseas.  Lt. Boldin is still serving in the Air Corps overseas.  He is the brother of Arthur Boldin of Corsicana.