Morris, Gerald E.

 

 

 

 

 

Gerald E. (Jud) Morris

World War II

1941—1945

 

 

 
 
Gerald E. Morris was one of the first men drafted into the United States Army from the Town of Halfmoon.  He was inducted on June 11, 1941 at Fort Upton, New York.

Jud served in Hawaii, the Battle of Leyte in the Philippines and the Battle of Okinawa.  In September 1942 he was promoted to First Sergeant at Honolulu, Hawaii.  He was in charge of headquarters company 763rd Tank Battalion in Hawaii, Okinawa and the Philippines. 

He was honorably discharged on September 25, 1945 a Fort Dix, New Jersey.  He received the following medals: Good conduct medal, American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic Pacific Medal with bronze arrowhead, Philippine Liberation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation (awarded for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy, Meritorious Unit Commendation (awarded to units for exceptionally meritorious conduct against an enemy.

When Jud Morris returned home from serving his country, he continued with his service to his town, his community, his church and his family.  He married Norma DeVoe in 1946 and they had one daughter, Nancy.  He was a charter member of the American Legion Post 1450, the Shenendehowa United Methodist Church, and the Halfmoon Senior Citizens.  He was a building contractor.  Later he became the Building Inspector for the Town of Halfmoon and the head of grounds and maintenance.  He was instrumental in getting the first solar town hall, the Halfmoon Senior Citizens building and was one of the founders of Halfmoon Day. 

On April 19, 2011 Jud was honored as a deceased Veteran by Saratoga County.  Congressman Chris Gibson commented that “he must have been quite the man to have been promoted to First Sergeant in such a short time”.

Jud was a proud American and a proud resident of the Town of Halfmoon.