World War II Honoree

John George Wulfert

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Peoria, Illinois

Honored By

Mrs. Janet Johnson Gresham

Relationship

Cousin

DESTROYER MINELAYER USS LINDSEY DM-32 (COMMANDED BY T. E. CHAMBERS) WAS PASSING OUTSIDE KUBA SHIMA AT 14:50 APRIL 12 WHEN STRUCK BY TWO KAMIKAZE PILOTS. THE BOW DOWN TO NUMBER 1 GUN WAS BLOWN OFF. THE SHIP HAD 56 KILLED OR MISSING, 51 WOUNDED, AND LOOKED LIKE A TOTAL LOSS BUT THE CREW FIXED UP THE SHIP WELL ENOUGH TO REACH GUAM. JOHNNY WAS ON THE USS LINDSEY AT THE BATTLE OF OKINAWA IN 1945. HE WAS BADLY BURNED BY TRYING TO SAVE HIS BUDDY. AS SOON AS USS LINDSEY REACHED PORT, JOHNNY WAS TAKEN TO GUAM NAVAL HOSPITAL, AND THEN TRANSFERRED TO A HOSPITAL IN CALIFORNIA. HE WENT IN FOR AN EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF PLASTIC SURGERY THERE.