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Sgt. Lay, G Troop, Horse Cavalry, 1941 |
Captain Lay displaying his medals |
Sgt.
Kermit Lay, left the Horse Cavalry and re-enlisted as Private
in the Aviation Ordnance. The recruiting sergeant had told him they were forming a cadre
and he would probably make Staff Sgt. He arrived at Fort Douglas, Utah where the 1st
Sergeant told him that all vacancies had been filled. He was assigned to 724th
Aviation Ordnance Co. A month later they were ordered to the Philippines, arriving at
Nichols Field 45 days before the outbreak of World War II. He wasnt happy about that
as he had finished a tour of duty there in 1935-37. On the 8th of December 1941 the
Japanese destroyed all the planes on the ground. On 24th of December Gen. MacArthur
declared Manila an open city and ordered all troops to Bataan. Air Corps units were
issued Springfield rifles and were named Provisional Air Corps Infantry. Kermit
received a battlefield commission as 2nd Lieutenant, Infantry, 25th
January, 1942 and has the distinction of being the only private to do so. He made
the Bataan Death March and was a prisoner of war for 3-1/2 years. Kermit retired
from the Army as a Captain in 1951. He was awarded and received many medals for his
duties while serving his country including the Silver Star, the Bronze Star w/ Cluster,
the Purple Heart w/ Cluster, the POW Medal, the Combat Infrantry Badge, the WW II Victory
Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation w/2 Oak Leaf Clusters, the
Philippine Unit Citation, the American Defense Medal w/ Star, the Asiatic Pacific Theater
Medal w/ 2 Stars, and many more.
To see more of Capt. Kermit Lay's Military History pease
Click Here, also see the loving memorial of my wife Paula Lay, please Click Here. |
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