World War II Honoree

Christopher Columbus Nixon

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Oldtown, Maryland

Honored By

John Nixon

Relationship

Son

GUNNER'S MATE (GUNS) 3RD CLASS ENLISTED ON MAY 13, 1944. WENT THROUGH BASIC TRAINING AT BAINBRIDGE, MARYLAND AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE COMMISSIONING CREW OF THE USS FORMOE DE-509 AS A GUNNERS MATE. HE TRANSITED THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL ON USS FORMOE TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN WHERE HE EARNED FOUR MEDALS: THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH TWO STARS, WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDAL AND THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL WITH ONE STAR. USS FORMOE WAS COMMISSIONED OCTOBER 5, 1944. SHE ARRIVED AT MANUS FROM THE EAST COAST JANUARY 15, 1945, AND TEN DAYS LATER SAILED FOR MOROTAI TO JOIN A TROOP CONVOY BOUND WITH REINFORCEMENTS FOR LINGAYEN. SHE ENTERED LINGAYEN GULF FEBRUARY 10 AND FOR THE NEXT MONTH AND A HALF, OPERATED IN THE PHILIPPINES, GUARDING MINE CRAFT AND EXPLODING THE MINES THEY SWEPT IN BALER BAY AND CASIGURAN SOUND, AND SAILING AS ESCORT FROM LINGAYEN TO LEYTE. FROM MARCH 21 TO 30, USS FORMOE PATROLLED OF PANAY IN A PICKET LINE COVERING LANDINGS THERE, THEN CONTINUED HER PHILIPPINE ESCORT DUTY, MAKING ONE VOYAGE TO MANUS TO BRING LANDING CRAFT NORTH. USS FORMOE DEPARTED SUBIC BAY APRIL 18, 1945 TO STAGE AT MOROTAI FOR THE INVASION OF BORNEO. SHE ARRIVED AT TARAKAN MAY 1 ESCORTING THE AMPHIBIOUS FORCE AND FROM MAY 3 TO 30 SAILED OFF BORNEO, ACTING AS HEADQUARTERS SHIP FOR SEVERAL JAPANESE AIR ATTACKS. FIRED IN FOUR SEPARATE SHORE BOMBARDMENTS TO SUPPORT THE TROOPS ADVANCING ASHORE. BETWEEN JUNE 2 AND THE CLOSE OF THE WAR, FORMOE RANGED WIDELY ON ESCORT DUTY, CALLING AT LEYTE, HOLLANDIA, ULITHI, MANILA AND OKINAWA. AT MANILA AT THE CLOSE OF HOSTILITIES, SHE BEGAN OCCUPATION DUTY WITH A RETURN VOYAGE TO OKINAWA, AND THEN SERVED AS ESCORT FOR THE FLAGSHIP OF FLEET AIR WING 1 FOR MOST OF THE REMAINDER OF HER CAREER, CALLING AT SHANGHAI AND HONG KONG, AS WELL AS IN TOKYO BAY. SHE RETURNED TO SAN FRANCISCO JANUARY 20, 1946 AND WAS DECOMMISSIONED. SEPARATED FROM THE NAVY ON JANUARY 30, 1946.