Individual Details

28 Jun 1943 World War II Draft Registration
John Monroe Rainwater of 142 West 8th St., Bristow, Creek Co,Oklahoma was age 18, born 27 Jun 1925 at Bristow. Mr. J. S. Rainwater of the same address would always know his. Employed by Strong's Grocery, Bristow.
6', 175 lb. Blue eyes, brown hair.

Died only a few months after entering World War II. There is a Hospital Admission Card - John Monroe Rainwater, Enlisted Man, age 19, was admitted Nov 1944, Battle Casualty in line of duty, Bullet, Missile; Died. Brought back after end of war for burial and has a military marker, Bristow Cemetery, Bristow, Creek Co, OK
He was a Pvt in the 350th Infantry.

Found in clippings in Lettie Comstock Carney's scrapbook:
Private Rainwater Killed in Action
Mrs. J. M. Comstock, North 13th Street, received a message Saturday saying her grandson, Private John Monroe Rainwater has been killed in action in Italy. He is the son of Mr. & Mrs. John Rainwater, Bristow, Okla. [no date]

[unidentified newspaper clipping]
Pvt. Rainwater Reported Killed
Pvt. John Monroe Rainwater, age 19, the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. John S. Rainwater of Bristow, Okla., and the grandson of Mrs. J. M. Comstock of Van Buren has been reported killed in action.
He entered service after finished high school eighteen months ago and has served 18 months overseas with the Postal System and was recently transferred to the infantry before his death.
A memorial will be held in his honor at 2 pm at the christian church at Bristow, Sunday, Nov. 26.

Nephew Joseph Rainwater states that John died in the Battle of Monte Casino. He was a bugler but ended up fighting.

The date of the Battle of Monte Casino is usually found as 14 Feb 1944, although it was of several months duration. The US 5th Army, commanded by Lt. Gen. Mark Clark, was the US force involved. The first phase of the battle included an attack across the Gari River by the US 36th Division which was savagely repulsed, and a longer thrust into the mountains north of Casino by the US 34th, which was also unsuccessful. Most of the 5th Army landed at Anzio - they were ordered by the British Commander to attack the German line of retreat in May but Clark instead struck out for Rome. Clark's decision has been characterized as militarily stupid and insubordinate. Rome was liberated but the Germans escaped, making the hard-fought battle of Casino a hollow victory.

US National Archives & Records Administration
File Unit Title: Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946
Record Group 64
John Monroe Rainwater, Serial Number 38589540. Resident of Creek County, Oklahoma, enlisted in Tulsa, OK on 4 September 1943 as a Private. He was born in Oklahoma in 1925. He had finished 4 years of high school and was single.

Application for U. S. military heastone or marker:
Flat Granite Marker
Requested by Nora Hessie Rainwater, on 22 Nov 1948.
John M. Rainwater, Serial #38589540, Private, USAGF, Enlisted 25 Sep 1943, Oklahoma,
Company G, 350th Infantry.
Died in service 1 Nov 1944.
He was born 27 Jun 1925.
Cemetery: Oakcrest Memorial Park, Bristow, Oklahoma (actually buried Bristow City Cemetery)

Birth	27 Jun 1925	Oklahoma
Death	1 Nov 1944
Burial		Bristow Cemetery, Bristow, Creek County, Oklahoma

Father	John Sanford Rainwater (1884 - 1952)
Mother	Nora Hessa Comstock (1889 - 1973)
Sibling	Champ Harlen Rainwater (1908 - 1989)
Sibling	Eula Eudora Rainwater (1909 - 1998)
Sibling	Cleo Ocline Rainwater (1912 - 2009)