Branch, Harold C.

Description

Harold Carlton Branch was born on May 22, 1923, in Ashtabula, Ohio, to Ruth Ella Pepple, age 21, and Harold LaVern Branch, age 28. In Rye his family lived at 14 Central Avenue and were members of the Presbyterian Church. His mother was a concert organist.

Harold enlisted and served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

His outfit, the 25th Infantry Division,(nicknamed “Tropic Lightning”) is one of two units with the longest Pacific service records. He enlisted June 8, 1941 and left Aug. 11 of that year for Schofield Baracks, Hawaii, where he was stationed at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

In addition to his Pre-Pearl Harbor Ribbon with battle star, he won the Asiatic Pacific and Philippine Liberation Ribbons, the Combat Infantry Badge and Good Conduct Medal. He went to the Fiji Islands, and to Guadalcanal, where as a litter bearer he earned another battle star.

Two more bronze combat stars were added after service on New Georgia and Luzon. He served on New Guinea in the British Solomons and on New Caladonia. A trombonist, he also played in 150 USO shows between campaigns.

After four years in the Pacific Theater, Harold was honorably discharged from the Army. He married Faith F. Farmer on August 17, 1946, in White Plains, New York.

Hal was very musical and played with Tex Beneke and the Glenn Miller Band after the war.. He continued his musical pursuits .

Harold Carlton Branch died on January 11, 2007, in Phoenix, Arizona, at the age of 83, and was buried at National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, Phoenix, Maricopa County Arizona.

Birth: May 22, 1923 New York, USA Death: Jan. 11, 2007 Phoenix Maricopa County Arizona, USA BRANCH, HAROLD C TEC 4 US ARMY WORLD WAR II DATE OF BIRTH: 05/22/1923 DATE OF DEATH: 01/11/2007 BURIED AT: SECTION C5 ROW A SITE 10