World War II Honoree

Vernon Wikert

Branch of Service

U.S. Merchant Marine

Hometown

California

Honored By

Billie Wesley Roybal

Relationship

Friend

VERN WAS IN THE MERCHANT MARINE AND SERVED ON AT LEAST 4 DIFFERENT SHIPS. HE HAD BEEN TORPEDOED OUT OF THE WATER THREE TIMES. ONE TIME A RUSSIAN SUBMARINE CAPTAIN FOUND THEM IN THE WATER, GAVE THEM SUPPLIES AND RADIOED THEIR LOCATION SO THEY COULD BE RESCUED. THEY THOUGHT THAT HE WAS KIND, BECAUSE THEY COULD HAVE KILLED THEM OR LEFT THEM TO DIE. ONE TIME, WHILE SERVING AS A 50MM GUNNER, THE SIRENS WERE SOUNDING BATTLE STATIONS AND WHEN HE GOT TO HIS STATION ANOTHER YOUNG MAN WAS FIRING THE 50MM UNTIL HE ARRIVED. THE YOUNG MAN TURNED TO VERN TO LEAVE AND WAS SHOT AND KILLED IN THE VERY SEAT VERN SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN.