World War II Honoree

John Gillingham, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Carrollton, Illinois

Honored By

Lois Gillingham, Michael Gillingham, Diane Roberts & Carol Knoll

Relationship

Wife & Children

SERVED JULY 1, 1943 TO MARCH 13, 1946. RECEIVED HIS BASIC TRAINING AT NAVAL CONSTRUCTION TRAINING CENTER, CAMP PERRY, VIRGINIA. SPENT HIS ENTIRE TIME ASSIGNED TO THE 112TH NAVAL CONSTRUCTION BATTALION (SEABEES) THROUGHOUT THE PACIFIC THEATER. DURING THIS TIME, HE SAW DUTY IN HAWAII AND THE MARIANA ISLANDS, SPECIFICALLY SAIPAN AND TINIAN ISLANDS. IT WAS ON TINIAN THAT HIS BATTALION BUILT THE RUNWAYS FOR THE B-29 BOMBERS THAT FLEW THE ATOMIC BOMB TO JAPAN. DISCHARGED FROM GREAT LAKES NAVAL STATION FOLLOWING THE WAR. RECEIVED THE AMERICAN THEATER RIBBON, ASIATIC-PACIFIC AREA RIBBON AND WWII VICTORY RIBBON.