World War II Honoree

Willard George Castor

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Yakima, Washington

Honored By

Norma J. Castor

Relationship

Wife

ENLISTED IN THE U.S. NAVY AT FORT DODGE, IOWA ON NOVEMBER 10, 1942. ATTENDED BOOT CAMP AT U.S. NAVAL TRAINING STATION (NTS) GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS. PLANK OWNER IN COMMISSIONING OF USS EDSALL DE-129 ON APRIL 10, 1943, FLAGSHIP OF ESCORT DIVISION 59. SERVED IN BOTH ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC FLEETS, MAKING SEVEN ROUND TRIPS ACROSS THE ATLANTIC ESCORTING TROOP AND SUPPLY CONVOYS TO TARANTO, ITALY; PLYMOUTH AND LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND AND GREENOCK, SCOTLAND. SERVED AS BOATSWAIN'S MATE 2ND CLASS UNTIL THE USS EDSALL WAS DECOMMISSIONED AT GREEN COVE SPRINGS, FLORIDA IN THE SPRING OF 1946. PRIOR TO DISCHARGE, HE ALSO SERVED ABOARD THE USS SELLSTROM DE-255, USS MOORE DE-240, USS WALTON DE-361, USS FREMONT APA-44, USS MENIFEE APA-202 AND USS SHRIKE MSC-201. DECORATIONS INCLUDE THE AMERICAN THEATER CAMPAIGN RIBBON, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN RIBBON, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN RIBBON, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL. DISCHARGED ON JULY 2, 1962 AT KEY WEST, FLORIDA.