Cleveland County Military

Cleveland County,

Oklahoma

Military

Medal Of Honor Recipients

World War I

(Transcribed from US Army Center of Military History)

SMITH, JOHN LUCIAN

Rank and organization: Major, U.S. Marine Corps, Marine Fighter Squadron 223, Place and date: In the Solomon Islands area, August-September 1942. Entered service at: Oklahoma. Born: 26 December 1914, Lexington, Okla. Other Navy award: Legion of Merit. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and heroic achievement in aerial combat above and beyond the call of duty as commanding officer of Marine Fighting Squadron 223 during operations against enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands area, August-September 1942. Repeatedly risking his life in aggressive and daring attacks, Maj. Smith led his squadron against a determined force, greatly superior in numbers, personally shooting down 16 Japanese planes between 21 August and 15 September 1942. In spite of the limited combat experience of many of the pilots of this squadron, they achieved the notable record of a total of 83 enemy aircraft destroyed in this period, mainly attributable to the thorough training under Maj. Smith and to his intrepid and inspiring leadership. His bold tactics and indomitable fighting spirit, and the valiant and zealous fortitude of the men of his command not only rendered the enemy's attacks ineffective and costly to Japan, but contributed to the security of our advance base. His loyal and courageous devotion to duty sustains and enhances the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.

Tolleson Soldier Killed In Action

Mrs. Georgia Fields of Tolleson has been notified that her husband, PFC Carney C. (Blackie) Fields was killed in action on Luzon April 11.

In the trucking business in the Salt River valley before going into the army, Private Fields was a resident of Toleson and Phoenix for nine years. He entered the Army April 22, 1944 and went overseas last December.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Tommy, four years old, and Billy, 2 1/2; and a daughter, Connie, 15 months.

United States Korean Causalities 1950 – 1957

From World Vital Records

Cleveland County, Oklahoma

**If you have information about any of these brave souls and would like to share it, please contact me at the email below. Also, if you know of anyone else from Cleveland County that was a causality of the Korean War, we would like to know about it so they can be honored also.**

Name and Rank	Status	Place of Death	Date of Birth	Date of Death	Information and Town/County of Residence
Arms, Ernest H. Jr. (Reserve, U. S. Army)	KIA	North Korea	1931	10/11/1950	McClain County, Oklahoma; Service Number 18314993; Private First Class Arms was a member of the 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in North Korea on October 11, 1950 and died of those wounds later that day.
Burris, Tony K. (Sergeant First Class, Infantry, Reg. Army)	KIA Received the Medal of Honor	North Korea	1929	10/9/1951	Cleveland County, Service Number RA18313674; Buried in Blanchard, McClain County, Cemetery. Received the Medal of Honor. Sergeant First Class Burris was a member of Company L, 3rd Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in Korea on February 12, 1951 and returned to duty on March 29, 1951. When attacking enemy positions at "Heartbreak Ridge" near Mundung-ni, North Korea on October, 8 1951, he singlehandedly charged forward killing 15 enemy soldiers. The next day, he exposed himself to enemy fire so its position could be discovered and destroyed. Although seriously wounded, he attacked, expended his last grenade and fell to the ground. He was an American Indian.
Farley, Louis George (Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps.)	KIA	Korea – Chosin Reservoir – Yudam-Ni	10/16/1925	12/1/1950	Lexington, Cleveland County, Oklahoma; Buried in St. John’s Cemetery, Lexington; Service Number 1045319; Multiple Fragmentation Wounds; First Class Farley was a member of Company D, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. He was seriously wounded while fighting the enemy in Korea and died of those wounds on December 1, 1950.
Helm, J. B. (Private First Class, U. S. Marine Corps.)	POW/MIA/KIA	Korea	8/8/1933	10/6/1952	Norman, Cleveland County, Oklahoma; Service Number 1177330; Private First Class Helm was a member of Company C, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in Korea on October 6, 1952. His remains were not recovered.
Johnson, Jay D. (Private E-2, U. S. Army)	KIA	North Korea	3/24/34	4/8/1951	Norman, Cleveland County, Oklahoma; Service Number RA18342199; Private Johnson was a member of the 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in North Korea on April 8, 1951.
Lambeth, Otis H. (Private E-2, U. S. Army)	KIA	South Korea	7/7/1932	3/24/1951	Cleveland County, Oklahoma; Service Number: RA18313515; Buried in Friendship Cemetery, Cleveland County, Oklahoma; Private Lambeth was a member of the 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in South Korea on March 24, 1951.
Phillips, Marvin Earl (Private First Class; U. S. Marine Corps.)	KIA	Korea – Chosin Reservoir	7/11/1930	11/28/1950	Norman, Cleveland County, Oklahoma; Service Number 1086865; Gunshot or Small Arms Fire; Private First Class Phillips was a member of Company A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in Korea on November 28, 1950.
Pierce, James Travis (Corporal, U. S. Army)	POW/KIA	North Korea		11/19/1950	Cleveland County, Oklahoma; Service Number RA18222131; Corporal Pierce was a member of Company K, 3rd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was seriously wounded by the enemy in South Korea on September 6, 1950 and returned to duty on November 14, 1950. He was listed as Missing in Action while fighting the enemy in North Korea on November 19, 1950. He was presumed dead on December 31, 1953.
Todd, Owen Mason (Sergeant; U. S. Army)	Non-hostile; Died other causes	Korea – Suwoni	9/1/1916	7/9/1951	Norman, Cleveland County, Oklahoma; Service Number RA0692826197; Sergeant Todd was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was a member of the 590th Signal Construction Battalion, U.S. Army. On July 9, 1951, he was electrocuted while standing on a steel tower and touched a high voltage line at Suwoni, Korea.