World War II Honoree

Wilbert Hase Gallop

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Portsmouth, Virginia

Honored By

Aretha Hodgkins

Relationship

Niece

CHIEF PETTY OFFICER. ENLISTED IN THE U.S. NAVY IN APRIL 1939. AFTER TWO YEARS IN CUBA, BEGAN WARTIME ASSIGNMENTS WHICH INCLUDED DUTY IN THE ATLANTIC IN THE EARLY PART OF THE WAR AND LATER PARTICIPATED IN MOST OF THE MAJOR OPERATIONS IN THE PACIFIC. TOOK PART IN BATTLES OF CAPE ESPERANCE, SANTA CRUZ ISLAND, VELLA GULF, PHILIPPINES SEA AND GUAM. RECEIVED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN DEFENSE MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC COMMENDATION AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. PROMOTED TO CHIEF JULY 1945. SERVED TWO YEARS AT SOUTHGATE, PORTSMOUTH AND THEN TRANSFERRED FIRST TO THE USS DEUEL, THEN TO THE USS VERMILION, WHERE HE SERVED ABOUT A MONTH.