World War II Honoree

Goree Edward Waugh

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Bluefield, West Virginia

Honored By

Harry M. Waugh

Relationship

Brother

LIEUTENANT. KILLED JULY 23, 1943 IN A PLANE CRASH AS A RESULT OF ANTI-SUBMARINE ACTION IN THE ATLANTIC. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART, POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS AND THE AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL. THE CITATION SAID THE DECORATION WAS FOR 'HEROISM AND EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENT WHILE PARTICIPATING IN AERIAL FLIGHT IN A U.S. NAVY BOMBING PLANE. WHEN HIS PLANE WAS CALLED FROM A SUBMARINE HOLD-DOWN FLIGHT TO THE SCENE OF A PREVIOUS ATTACK ON AN ENEMY SUBMARINE, LIEUTENANT WAUGH IMMEDIATELY FLEW TO THE AREA AND COURAGEOUSLY ENGAGED THE SURFACED VESSEL IN THE FACE OF INTENSE ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE. PRESSING HOME HIS FIERCE ATTACK WITH AGGRESSIVE DETERMINATION AND OUTSTANDING ACCURACY, HE RELEASED A STICK OF SIX BOMBS, THE CENTER BOMB STRIKING THE DECK OF THE SUBMARINE WITH SUCH FORCE THAT THE ENSUING EXPLOSION DESTROYED THE HOSTILE SHIP AND SENT HIS OWN DAMAGED AIRCRAFT PLUNGING INTO THE SEA. HE GALLANTLY GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY.'