John Lambert, U.S. Army
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John was born on May 17, 1924, in Seattle. He enlisted in the US Army on April 14, 1943, underwent processing at the Presidio in Monterey, and was then assigned to Camp Beale for Basic training.
John did his advanced infantry training at Fort Ord, California. In October 1943, he departed overseas to the Southwest Pacific, arriving in Australia on Nov. 10, 1943, and was assigned to the 32nd Infantry Division then in New Guinea in Co. L. 128th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division.
He participated in combat in several battles in New Guinea, including Saidor and Aitape. John departed Hollandia, New Guinea for the Philippine Islands in November 1944, landing at Leyte Island in the Philippines and was in combat until the island was secured at the end of December 1944. The invasion of the main island of Luzon, in the Philippines began in mid-January 1945. After two weeks of rest and re-supply, he departed for Luzon, landing at Lingayan Gulf at the end of January.
While other divisions headed South from Lingayan Gulf to capture Manila and rescue prisoners of war held by the Japanese forces in the Philippines, John’s Division headed North in pursuit of General Yamashita, the Supreme Commander of Japanese forces in the Philippines. Yamashita skillfully moved his main forces into the mountains of Northern Luzon and prepared elaborate defensive positions. John was in combat in Northern Luzon until the war ended in mid-August 1945. His division then moved to Japan in November 1945, here he rotated home under the points system and separated from the Army at Camp Beale on Dec. 18, 1945, with the rank of Technical Sergeant and entered the Army Reserve.
He returned to active duty in the regular Army on Dec. 11, 1946, at Fort Ord and departed for the European Theatre of Operations in February 1947, arriving in Germany in late February. He was assigned to the United States Forces at Linz, Austria serving with the Headquarters and Service Troop, 4th Constabulary Regiment (formally 4th Calvary) in the Army of Occupation doing various assignments. Upon returning to the United States in late December 1949, to Fort Dix, New Jersey, John re-enlisted and was assigned to CO. F, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, Washington.
The Korean war started June 25, 1952. His 2nd Division was alerted, prepared for movement, and departed for Korea, with the 9th Infantry Division, arriving in Pusan, Korea, at the end of July. The 9th Infantry was committed to action early in August 1950 on the Pusan Perimeter. He fought in a number of battles in the Pusan Perimeter, the Naktong River and the breakout North to the 38th Parallel. He served as Platoon Sergeant, with the 1st Platoon with a rank of Sergeant First Class and was wounded twice in action on September 1 and again September 17.
He continued in action, advancing across the parallel into North Korea, into Pyongyang, the North Korean Capital, and continued on North toward the Yalu River which separates North Korea from China. John experienced battle contact with Chinese troops after dark on Nov. 26, 1950. The Chinese troops were in great strength and launched a major attack on the 9th Infantry. The United States suffered heavy casualties and were overrun. John was wounded severely that night in the right leg and arm. He still carries a bullet in the right index finger.
John was evacuated by air to a hospital at Pyongyang for two days and then on to Osaka General Hospital in Japan. He was sent to Letterman Army Hospital at the Presidio of San Francisco, where he recovered and was released in April 1951. He was then reassigned to the 30th Infantry Regiment at the infantry school at Fort Benning Georgia, remained there until being discharged in March 1953 with a disability, with a rank of Sergeant First Class.
In February 1951, John married his wife May. They have a daughter that has given them two grandsons. John was awarded the Bronze Star Medal w/Oak leaf cluster, Purple Heart Medal with 2 Oak leaf clusters, Asiatic Pacific Campaign ribbon with 3 Battle Stars, Philippine Liberation ribbon with two battle stars, Korean Service Ribbon with 3 service stars, combat infantry badge with star, Presidential Unit Citation with two oak leaf clusters, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Army of Occupation for both Japan and Germany, Victory Medal World War 2, National Defense Medical and Good Conduct medal.
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— Royal D. Goodman, U.S. Army/Vietnam,
1st Cav/9th Infantry
