World War II Honoree

Ollie G. Webb

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

El Cajon, California

Honored By

Patrick Webb

Relationship

Son

LIEUTENANT JUNIOR GRADE. OLLIE G. WEBB ENLISTED IN THE NAVY ON AUGUST 5, 1929. HE SERVED ABOARD THE USS JASON (AC-12), A COAL-BURNING COAL COLLIER THAT WAS CONVERTED INTO AN AIRCRAFT TENDER IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC FLEET. HE ALSO SERVED ABOARD THE USS WEST VIRGINIA (BB-48), THE USS OMAHA (CL-04), THE USS NEW MEXICO (BB-40),THE USS HOLLAND (AS-03), THE USS ST. CROIX (APA-231), AND THE USS SERRANO (ATF-112). HIS LAST DUTY STATION WAS THE NAVAL TRAINING CENTER IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, AS A RECRUIT INSTRUCTOR. ON DECEMBER 7, 1941, HE WAS ABOARD THE USS HOLLAND WHICH WAS ANCHORED JUST OFF THE BREAKWATER IN FRONT OF THE MANILA HOTEL IN MANILA BAY, PHILIPPINES. ON AUGUST 15, 1945, WHEN HE RECEIVED WORD THAT THE JAPANESE HAD SURRENDERED, HE WAS STATIONED ABOARD OF USS ST. CROIX, AGAIN ANCHORED IN MANILA BAY, JUST 600 YARDS FROM THE POSITION WHERE HE ENTERED WORLD WAR II, IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT A JAPANESE CRUISER HAD BEEN SUNK IN THE MANILA HOTEL ANCHORAGE. HE WAS LATER PROMOTED TO 1ST LIEUTENANT, AND PARTICIPATED IN THE NUCLEAR EXPERIMENT AT BIKINI ATOLL.