For this Memorial Day, let's honor our family members that served in the military. I will start with my father who served in the army in WW II. Here is his photo and plaque inscription that is on the WW II Memorial Registry site. Activity During WWII STAFF SERGEANT. DRAFTED ON JANUARY 27, 1942, AT AGE 23. SERVED FROM JANUARY 27, 1942 TO OCTOBER 5, 1945 IN 4TH DIVISION, HEADQUARTERS BATTERY, 29TH FIELD ARTILLERY BATTALION, IN THE FOLLOWING BATTLES/CAMPAIGNS: NORMANDY (UTAH BEACH), NORTHERN FRANCE, ARDENNES, RHINELAND, AND CENTRAL EUROPE. RECEIVED EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER MEDAL WITH 5 BRONZE STARS AND 1 ARROWHEAD, EXPERT MARKSMAN BADGE, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AND FRENCH INSIGNIA OF THE LEGION OF HONOR. SERVED OCCUPATION DUTY FROM MAY 8, 1945 TO AUGUST, 1945. DISCHARGED ON OCTOBER 5, 1945 AT CAMP BUTLER, NORTH CAROLINA. SERVED 3 YEARS, 8 MONTHS, AND 8 DAYS.
Sole Survivor Policy The policy regarding brothers serving in the military during wartime is primarily governed by the Sole Survivor Policy. This policy, established by the United States Department of Defense Directive 1315.15, aims to protect family members from the draft during peacetime or wartime if they have already lost family members to military service. The policy has been in effect since 1948 and was notably highlighted after the tragic loss of the five Sullivan brothers during World War II. The policy allows for the exemption of the sole surviving son of a family where one or more sons or daughters have been killed in action, died in the line of duty, or subsequently died of injuries or disease incurred while in military service. This exemption applies to peacetime and wartime, and any son, not just a sole surviving son, is exempt from being drafted if their father, brother, or sister had been killed in action or died in the line of duty before December 31, 1959, or died subsequent to that date as a result of injuries or disease incurred while in service. The policy also provides that a son or sons who had been drafted and had not voluntarily extended their term of service or re-enlisted, and during their service had come under the criteria of Section 6 (o) that would have prohibited them from being inducted as civilians, were permitted to apply for immediate discharge from the armed forces.
