RESIDENCE (DURING WWII):
Chicago, Illinois
FULL NAME:
John M. Lally
ARMY SERIAL NUMBER (ASN):
36739740
- DATE OF BIRTH: Dec 12, 1924
- DATE OF DEATH: Jan 20, 1985
DATE / PLACE OF ENLISTMENT:
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DATE OF ENLISTMENT:Nov 3, 1943
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PLACE OF ENLISTMENT:Chicago, Illinois
ORGANIZATION:
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MAIN UNIT:23rd Infantry Regiment
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SUBUNIT:Cannon Company
RANK / POSITION IN UNIT (LAST KNOWN):
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RANK:Private First Class (Pfc.)
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POSITION IN UNIT:Gunner
BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS:
✭ Normandy Campaign (6 June – 24 July 1944), ✭ Northern France Campaign (25 July – 14 September 1944), ✭ Ardennes-Alsace Campaign (16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945), ✭ Rhineland Campaign (15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945), ✭ Central Europe Campaign (22 March – 11 May 1945)
DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS (AWARDS):
🎖Bronze Star Medal, 🎖Good Conduct Medal, 🎖American Campaign Medal, 🎖European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, 🎖WWII Victory Medal, 🎖Honorable Service Lapel Button
SUMMARY OF HIS SERVICE:
My dad began active service on March 18, 1943. He was qualified as Gunner 844. After completing basic training, he departed USA on May 13, 1944 and arrived in the ETO on May 25, 1944. His service in European combat was 1 year and 2 months. He fought from Normandy, through Northern France, Ardennes including the Battle of the Bulge, into Germany and Czechoslovakia. He received the EAME Campaign Metal with 5 Bronze Stars. He departed Europe on July 11, 1945 to arrive in USA on July 20, 1945. He was honorably discharged with Good Conduct Metal as part of the RR1-1 demobilization on Dec 15, 1944.
My dad returned to Chicago and joined the Chicago Police Department. He used the GI Bill to attend DePaul University where he graduated with a BA degree in Accounting. Later he married Vilma Namath in Chicago in 1951 and began a family with 3 sons, Michael, Jack, and Kevin. The family moved to Phoenix, AZ.
My dad died in Phoenix in Jan 1985. He spoke very little about his experiences and all his detailed records were destroyed on the fire at the military personnel records facility (NARA).
