The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, PFC Ernest W. Allen, who died in the service of his country on September 4th, 1943 in Vella Lavella, Boko Mission AO. The cause of death was listed as KIA. At the time of his death Ernest was 27 years of age. He was from Center, Texas.
The decorations earned by PFC Ernest W. Allen include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Silver Star, the Purple Heart, the Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.
Ernest was a clerk in civilian life and was married. He is buried in Manila American Cemetery ( Plot A, Row 15, Grave 101) and has a memorial in Sardis Cemetery, Shelbyville, TX.
Ernest's Silver Star was awarded per General Orders 64, U.S. Army South Pacific.
(This article is from an unknown newspaper but likely was his hometown one. Many thanks to researcher Larry Hume for providing us a copy)
By direction of the President, the Silver Star was awarded (posthumously on January 11, 1944 by Lt. General Millard T Harmon, Commanding United States Forces in the South Pacific area) to Ernest W Allen, Private First Class, Infantry, United States Army, for gallantry in action at Vella LaVella, Solomon Islands, on September 4, 1943. Pfc Allen had earlier been awarded the Purple Heart (posthumously) for wounds received in action resulting in his death on September 4, 1943. Both awards were sent to his parents.
While acting as a point for a patrol which had penetrated the Japanese outposts, Pfc Allen aggressively killed two of the enemy and assisted in killing a third with quick and accurate fire. One of the Japanese casualties was an officer carrying a map completely revealing the hostile positions. Through its use, our forces were enabled to expeditiously reduce enemy resistance.
In subsequent actions, Pfc Allen was killed instantly by Japanese machine gun fire. By his courage, devotion to duty and at the sacrifice of his life, he contributed inestimably to the successful culmination of the operation.
Pfc Allen, 27, was the son of Mr and Mrs J.H. Allen, Center, Texas. He entered the service in February of 1942. He has three brothers in the service, one of whom has just returned from overseas.
|
