World War II Honoree

William R. Garland

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

York, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Grace Garland

Relationship

Wife

HIS SERVICE TIME WAS DECEMBER 20, 1941 TO NOVEMBER 5, 1947. HE SERVED ON THE USS COLE AND ON THE USS SATTERLEE AND WAS ALSO ASSIGNED TO THE U.S. NAVAL BARRACKS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. HE ALSO ESCORTED HMS VICTORIOUSLY FROM WEST COAST TO EAST COAST AND JOINED THE ATLANTIC FLEET ON AUGUST 26, 1943. HE THEN PARTICIPATED IN NUMEROUS CONVOYS, ESCORTING MANY SHIPS AND WAS THE 1ST WARSHIP TO APPROACH THE COAST OF NORMANDY. IN JULY, THEY WENT TO THE MEDITERRANEAN AND PARTICIPATED IN THE INVASION OF THE SOUTH COAST OF FRANCE ATTACKING 5 GERMAN E-BOATS AND RECOVERED 12 OF THEIR SURVIVORS. HE WAS ABOARD WHEN THEY ESCORTED THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO YALTA. HE WAS AWARDED 6 MEDALS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, NAVY OCCUPATION SERVICE MEDAL AND THE ASIA NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL.