World War II Honoree

Carl J. Geis

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Beaver Crossing, Nebraska

Honored By

Holmes Post 178

CARL WAS SWORN INTO THE NAVY ON AUGUST 27, 1942 AND TRAINED AT GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS; SOLOMONS, MARYLAND AND PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA, GRADUATING AS GUNNERS MATE. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO LCI 222 AT BOSTON AND SENT TO THE SOLOMON ISLANDS WHERE HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO LCI 70. ON NOVEMBER 5TH, 1943 A TORPEDO PENETRATED THEIR SHIP BUT DIDN'T EXPLODE. THEY WERE FORCED TO EVACUATE BUT CARL AND THREE OTHERS VOLUNTEERED, WHILE UNDER ATTACK, TO GO BACK AND GET THE SHIP TOWED BACK TO THE ISLAND. FOR THIS THEY RECEIVED A CITATION FROM ADMIRAL W. F. HALSEY. THE LCI 70 SAW A LOT OF ACTION AT THE BOUGAINVILLE LANDINGS AND THE LINGAYEN LANDINGS. THEY WERE UNDER REPEATED KAMIKAZE ATTACKS AND ON ONE OCCASION WITH THE HELP OF 2 OTHER SHIPS AND 2 GUNS FROM THE ISLAND THEY DOWNED 14 SUICIDE PLANES WITHOUT DAMAGE TO THEIR SHIP. AT LINGAYEN THEY DOWNED 3 ENEMY PLANES AND RECEIVED A PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION. ANOTHER SHIP TRANSFER WAS MADE TO LCI 1073 IN 1945. ON JULY 18, 1945, CARL WAS ACCIDENTALLY SHOT IN THE HAND. CARL WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON APRIL 1, 1946 WITH THE RANK OF GUNNERS MATE 2ND CLASS AND WORE THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN AREA RIBBON, ASIATIC-PACIFIC RIBBON 1-STAR,COMMENDATION RIBBON AND WORLD WAR II VICTORY RIBBON ON POINT SYSTEM.