World War II Honoree

Elmer Overgaard

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Minden, Iowa

Honored By

Patricia M. Overgaard

Relationship

Daughter

ENLISTED IN THE NAVY ON FEBRUARY 5, 1941. SERVED ON USS RATHBURNE FROM 1941 TO 1943, BOATSWAIN'S MATE IN CHARGE. SERVED ON USS PCS-1414, PUT BRAND NEW SHIP INTO COMMISSION OUT OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, TRANSFERRED TO SAN FRANCISCO TO TROOP TRANSPORT SHIP USS WARRICK. INJURED ON BOARD SHIP IN JANUARY 1944; HIS NECK WAS FRACTURED WHEN A PONTOON LANDING CRAFT BARGE BROKE LOOSE. TRANSFERRED TO THE LONG BEACH NAVAL HOSPITAL, LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA FOR RECOVERY. FROM THERE, TRANSFERRED TO NORMAN, OKLAHOMA TO A CONVALESCENT HOSPITAL. SPENT 9 MONTHS IN OKLAHOMA. AFTER RECOVERY, TRANSFERRED TO SAN DIEGO, ASSIGNED TO A TROOP SHIP AND SENT TO PHILIPPINE ISLANDS WHERE HE WAS ASSIGNED TO YOG-57. FROM THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, THE SHIP WENT INTO JAPAN WHERE HE SPENT THE REST OF HIS ENLISTMENT. DISCHARGED FROM THE NAVY ON JANUARY 29, 1947.