World War II Honoree

Weldon S. Hoyle

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Tyler, Texas

Honored By

John C. Burkhardt, SVC MOPH, Chapter 1919, Austin, Texas

18-034-704, TRAINED IN RECONNAISSANCE FOR CAVALRY. AFTER TRAINING HE WAS ASSIGNED TO HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, 1ST BRIGADE, 1ST CAVALRY DIVISION AND SHIPPED TO THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. HE SERVED IN THE CAMPAIGNS: ADMIRALTY ISLANDS ON OCTOBER 20, 1944, THEY JOINED THE 6TH ARMY FOR THE INVASION OF LEYTE, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS; JANUARY 1945 THEY LANDED IN NORTHERN LUZON, NORTH OF MANILA, AT THE LINGAYEN GULF; SOUTHERN PHILIPPINE ISLANDS; NEW GUINEA AND THE BISMARCK-ARCHIPELAGO. WHILE FIGHTING IN THE NORTH OF MANILA, THE 1ST BRIGADE WERE ORDERED TO BREAK THROUGH ENEMY LINES AND MOVE AS FAST AS POSSIBLE TO THE SANTO TOMAS SEMINARY IN MANILA, WHERE THERE WERE SEVERAL THOUSAND PRISONERS OF WAR, ABOUT 66 MILES AWAY, TO PREVENT THEM FROM BEING KILLED BY THEIR JAPANESE CAPTORS. THEY BROKE THROUGH ENEMY LINES ON FEBRUARY 3, 1945, AND FORMED A 'FLYING COLUMN.' THEY REACHED THE UNIVERSITY JUST BEFORE DARK AND BYPASSED IT HEADING STRAIGHT TO SANTO TOMAS, AFTER DARK AND LIBERATED THE PRISONERS. HE WAS AWARDED NUMEROUS DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS, SOME OF WHICH WERE THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, FOUR BRONZE STAR MEDALS AND THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL.