World War II Honoree

Herbert Heilman

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Crestline, Ohio

Honored By

Robert Emanuel Wood

Relationship

Brother-in-law

ENLISTED IN THE U.S. NAVY ON MAY 31, 1944 WITH TRAINING AT GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS AS A SEAMAN FIRST CLASS. THEN AS PART OF THE VOLUNTEER NAVAL YARDS AND DOCKS (SEABEES). HE WAS SHIPPED TO CAMP ENDICOTT, RHODE ISLAND WHERE HE WAS REQUIRED TO TAKE MARINE COMBAT TRAINING. HIS TOUR OF DUTY TOOK HIM TO TSINGTAO, CHINA ON BOARD THE USS OSAGE TROOPSHIP WHERE THEY CONSTRUCTED AIRFIELDS. THE AIRFIELD WAS THROUGH A CEMETERY CAUSING QUITE A BIT OF UNREST AMONG THE CHINESE. HE WAS THE MASTER-OF-ARMS FOR THE BATTALION AND THEY WERE HOUSED IN AN ABANDONED TIRE FACTORY. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AUGUST 17, 1946 FROM THE GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS SEPARATION CENTER WITH WWII VICTORY MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC AREA RIBBON AND GOOD CONDUCT AWARD. IN FEB. 1950 AFTER WWII AND WHILE HERB WAS AN ACTIVE RESERVIST, HE WAS WITH THE MANSFIELD, OHIO NAVEL CONSTRUCTION BATTALION UNIT, SEABEE COMPANY 9-43 WHICH WAS SENT TO CAMP HALE, CO. THEY WERE THERE TO COMPLETE FIFTEEN DAYS OF COLD WEATHER TRAINING, INCLUDING LEARNING TO SKI, WHICH WAS A FIRST FOR MOST OF THE MEN. HAVING SURVIVED THAT EXPERIENCE, HIS SECOND TOUR OF DUTY WAS THE KOREAN WAR. HE RE-ENTERED NOVE. 27, 1950 AT GREAT LAKES NAVAL TRAINING STATION, IL; AND THEN TO PORT HUENEME, CA, LATER TO EMBARK AT SEATLE, WA. FROM THERE HE FLEW TO ADAK, AK WHERE HE WAS STATIONED UNTIL BEING SENT BACK TO SEATLE, WA AND HONORABLY DISCHARGED AUG. 2, 1951. HI SRANK WAS THIRD CLASS PETTY OFFICER