World War II Honoree

James Arlon Foust

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Paris, Tennessee

Honored By

Natalie Foust

Relationship

Wife

VOLUNTEERED FOR THE U.S. NAVY ON NOVEMBER 11, 1942 AND LEFT IMMEDIATELY FOR BOOT CAMP AT GREAT LAKES NAVAL TRAINING STATION AT CHICAGO, ILLINOIS FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS OF TRAINING. THEN SENT TO FORD'S NAVAL TRAINING STATION, DEARBORN, MICHIGAN AND WENT TO MACHINIST'S SCHOOL UNTIL MAY 1943. AT THAT TIME HE WAS SENT TO HUNTER'S POINT NAVAL YARD AT SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA TO BOARD THE DESTROYER, USS CONY DD-508. REMAINED ON THE USS CONY UNTIL JANUARY 1946. THE SHIP STAYED IN THE PACIFIC WAR ZONE UNTIL THE END OF WWII. IT RECEIVED TWO BOMB HITS AT THE SAME TIME WHILE IN ACTION. AT THE END OF THE WAR, SENT TO SHANGHAI, CHINA AND REMAINED THERE UNTIL RETURN TO THE U.S. IN JANUARY 1946. DISCHARGED FROM THE NAVY IN JANUARY 1946 WITH THE RANK OF WATER TENDER 2ND CLASS (BOILER OPERATOR). EARNED 10 BATTLE STARS AND THE CHINA SERVICE MEDAL.