World War II Honoree

Raymond J. Wilkerson

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Gainesville, Florida

Honored By

Mrs. Vivian Wilkerson

Relationship

Wife

Served on three destroyers, the USS Claxton DD-571, USS Putnam DD-757 and the USS James C. Owens DD-776, in the European and Asiatic-Pacific Theaters of war. Received a Presidential Citation for duty aboard the Claxton, which took a hit while bombarding an air base off Japan. Aboard the USS Putnam, participated in seven major sea battles in the South Pacific, under the command of Admiral Arleigh Burke. Sank a Japanese cruiser and downed several planes. Witnessed the famous flag raising on Iwo Jima from the bridge of the Putnam.