World War II Honoree

Melvin Louis Wheaton

Branch of Service

U.S. Coast Guard

Hometown

Seattle, Washington

Honored By

Norma Wheaton

Relationship

Wife

SPENT 1 1/2 YEARS IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC DURING WWII BUT ENLISTED JULY 1940. WAS DISCHARGED JANUARY 1946. THE 1 1/2 YEARS SPENT IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC WAS ON AN ATTACK TRANSPORT, THE HUNTER LIGGETT WHERE HE TRANSPORTED TROOPS FROM SHIP TO SHORE AND VICE VERSA SOMETIMES UNDER ATTACK BY THE JAPANESE AND IN THE HEAT OF BATTLE. SOMETIMES BROUGHT PRISONERS ABOARD THE SHIP BY CARGO NET AS PRISONERS WOULD NOT VOLUNTARILY CLIMB NET ONTO SHIP. HE ALSO SPENT SEVERAL MONTHS ASHORE ON GUADALCANAL WORKING ON BOAT REPAIR.