World War II Honoree

Henry Arthur Bates

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Spokane, Washington

Honored By

Janice Antoinette Bates

Relationship

Daughter

ON DECEMBER 7, 1941, HENRY WAS ABOARD THE USS TENNESSEE AT PEARL HARBOR, TERRITORY OF HAWAII. HE TOOK PART IN ACTION AGAINST THE JAPANESE INVADERS AND RECEIVED MENTION IN HIS SERVICE RECORD, 'THAT HIS CONDUCT WAS MOST COMMENDABLE'. PROMOTED TO AVIATION MACHINIST MATE SECOND CLASS, THEN AVIATION MACHINIST MATE FIRST CLASS, AND IN DECEMBER OF 1941 TO AVIATION MACHINIST CHIEF. AS HE TRAVELED IN THE PACIFIC DURING THE NEXT YEAR HE RECEIVED THE AIR CREW INSIGNIA AND WAS APPOINTED WARRANT MACHINIST (AA). HE PARTICIPATED IN THE BOMBARDMENT AND OCCUPATION OF TARAWA, IN THE GILBERT ISLANDS. HE CROSSED THE INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE AND WAS ADMITTED TO THE ORDER OF THE GOLDEN DRAGON. HE ALSO CROSSED THE EQUATOR AND WAS INDUCTED INTO THE ROYAL ORDER OF SHELLBACKS. HE SERVED ON BOARD THE USS TENNESSEE DURING THE ALEUTIAN CAMPAIGN FROM JUNE THROUGH AUGUST. DURING THIS TIME HIS SHIP WAS INVOLVED IN THE BOMBARDMENT OF KISKA. THROUGHOUT THE NEXT YEAR, HE PARTICIPATED IN THE BOMBARDMENT AND OCCUPATION OF KWAJALEIN ATOLL, IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS. HE ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE BOMBARDMENT AND OCCUPATION OF ENIWETOK ATOLL AND THE BOMBARDMENT OF KAVIENG, IN NEW IRELAND. HE WAS DETACHED TO THE NEAREST NAVAL DISTRICT ON BOARD THE USAT HENRY BERGH. THE SHIP WAS SUNK AND HE WAS SHIPWRECKED ON THE FARALLONE ISLANDS IN MAY OF 1944. HE REPORTED ABOARD THE USS HORNET CV-12 AND WHILE ABOARD HE PARTICIPATED IN THE CARRIER STRIKE AGAINST NANSEI SHOTO AND LUZON. ALSO, IN VISAYAS IN STRATEGIC SUPPORT OF LANDING OPERATIONS BY THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AMPHIBIOUS FORCES ON LEYTE ISLAND. HE PARTICIPATED IN A CARRIER STRIKE AGAINST THE JAPANESE FLEET IN THE WEST SULU SEA IN OCTOBER OF 1944. HE PARTICIPATED IN A CARRIER STRIKE AGAINST A JAPANESE CONVOY OFF THE WEST COAST OF LEYTE ISLAND IN NOVEMBER 1944. HE WAS APPOINTED CHIEF MACHINIST IN THE U.S. NAVY RECEIVING THE FOLLOWING AWARDS: THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON WITH TWO BRONZE STARS, THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL WITH ONE BRONZE STAR, THE AMERICAN THEATER, THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC MEDAL WITH FOUR BRONZE STARS, THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. DISCHARGED FROM THE NAVY ON MAY 13, 1946. DURING HIS SERVICE TO HIS COUNTRY HENRY WAS WOUNDED IN THE LEG AND KNEE. ONE INJURY OCCURRED ABOARD THE USS TENNESSEE DURING THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR AND THE OTHER ABOARD THE USS HORNET DURING A FIGHT WITH JAPANESE ZERO'S.