Original Items: One-of-a-kind Set. In an order dates November 7th, 1945 for the Award of the Soldier's Medal it reads:

Technician Fifth Grade LAWRENCE LA LONDE, 36533735, Corps of Engineers, Army of the United States. On 18 May 1944, on New Britain Island, in response to an emergency call from two soldiers stranded three miles off shore in a home-made craft, Technician Fifth Grade LA LONDE, with an officer and three enlisted men, volunteered to effect their rescue. Embarking in an assault boat, the rescue party located the drifting soldiers after a two-hour search in a heavy storm and brought them safely to shore. Technician Fifth Grade LA LONDE's courageous disregard of his personal safety was instrumental in saving the lives of his comrades.

This grouping is comprised of items that belonged to Technician Fifth Grade LAWRENCE LA LONDE, ASN 36533735. They include his Class A Uniform Service Jacket, captured Japanese flags, Philippines knife, medals and insignia (including boxed Soldier's Medal), and various other items including original paperwork (including original Soldier's Medal Citation) and more. She photos for what is included.

The 40th Infantry Division was ordered into federal service on 3 March 1941. It was at the time a National Guard division from the California, Nevada Army National Guard, and Utah Army National Guards. In February 1942, the 40th Infantry Division was reorganized from a 'square', two-brigade, four-regiment division to a three-regiment division without any intermediate brigade headquarters. Thus the 79th and 80th Infantry Brigades were inactivated.

The division departed for overseas service on 23 August 1942. The division's first overseas assignment was the defense of the outer Hawaiian Islands, where it arrived in September 1942. Training continued as defensive positions were improved and maintained. In July 1943, the division was concentrated on Oahu, and relieved the 24th Infantry Division of the defense of the North Sector. Relieved of the North Sector in October 1943, the 40th entered upon a period of intensive amphibious and jungle training. On 20 December 1943, the first units left for Guadalcanal, and by mid-January 1944, movement was completed, and the division prepared for its first combat assignment. On 24 April 1944, it left Guadalcanal for New Britain. The regiments of the division took positions at Talasea on the northern side of the island, at Arawe on the southern side, and at near the western end. Neutralization of the enemy was effected by patrols. No major battle was fought. Heavy rain and mud were constant problems.

The 40th was relieved of missions on New Britain on 27 November 1944 by the Australian 5th Division, and began training for the Luzon landing. Sailing from Borgen Bay on 9 December 1944, the division made an assault landing at Lingayen, Luzon, under command of XIV Corps, on 9 January 1945. Seizing Lingayen airfield, the division occupied Bolinao Peninsula and San Miguel, and advanced toward Manila, include the Filipino regular and constable force of the Philippine Commonwealth Army and Philippine Constabulary were recaptured areas around in Luzon at the mainland, running into heavy fighting in the Fort Stotsenburg area and the Bambam Hills. Snake Hill and Storm King Mountain were taken in February and the 40th was relieved, 2 March. Leaving Luzon on 15 March 1945 to cut behind the Japanese, the division landed on Panay Island on the 18th and knocked out Japanese resistance within ten days, seizing airfields at Santa Barbara and Mandurriao. On 29 March, it landed at Pulupandan, Negros Occidental, advanced through Bacolod toward Talisay, which it secured by 2 April 1945. After mopping up on Negros Island, the division returned to Panay in June and July 1945. In September 1945, the division moved to Korea for occupation duty. The division returned to the U.S. on 7 April 1946 and was reportedly inactivated the same day.

During the war various regiments were assigned to the division, these included the 108th, 159th, 160th, 184th, 185th, and 503d, however no more than three regiments were assigned to the division at any one time. World War II honors for the division included three Distinguished Unit Citations. Awards to its men included 1 Medal of Honor, 12 Distinguished Service Crosses, 1 Distinguished Service Medal, 245 Silver Stars, 21 Legions of Merit, 30 Soldier's Medals, 1,036 Bronze Stars, and 57 Air Medals.
Casualties

Total battle casualties: 3,025
Killed in action: 614
Wounded in action: 2,407[
Missing in action: 3
Prisoner of war: 1