World War II Honoree

Paul Elson Gardner

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Hamburg, Iowa

Honored By

Chuck Gardner

Relationship

Son

PAUL INITIALLY WORKED AT THE NAVAL AIR STATION IN OTTUMWA, IOWA, REPAIRING STEARMAN TRAINERS. HE LATER SERVED ABOARD THE USS LOUISVILLE, AND SAW ACTION IN THE BATTLE OF OKINAWA. HE WAS INJURED WHEN HIS SHIP SUFFERED A KAMIKAZE ATTACK, BUT WAS ABLE TO HELP OTHER MEN MORE SERIOUSLY INJURED, ONE OF WHOM LATER DIED OF HIS INJURIES.