World War II Honoree

William Everett Barker

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

West Palm Beach, Florida

Honored By

Silas M. Barker

Relationship

Son

ON JANUARY 23, 1941, HE WAS ORDERED TO ACTIVE DUTY, ASSIGNED TO RADIO STATION, KEY WEST, FLORIDA. ADVANCING THROUGH RANK, HE WAS CONSISTENTLY COMMENDED FOR HIS WORK HELPING SET UP AND MAINTAIN THE HIGH FREQUENCY RADIO COMMUNICATION SYSTEM ALONG THE EAST COAST OF THE U.S. HE WAS PROMOTED TO CHIEF RADIOMAN ON DECEMBER 1, 1943. ON JANUARY 24, 1944, HE WAS REASSIGNED TO AMPHIBIOUS TRAINING BASE, CAMP BRADFORD, NORFOLK, VIRGINIA FOR ASSIGNMENT TO DUTY BY THE COMMANDER, AMPHIBIOUS TRAINING COMMAND, ATLANTIC FLEET. HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO LST FLOTILLA 17 FOR STAFF ASSIGNMENT. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO USS LST 517 ON THE STAFF OF COMMANDER LST FLOTILLA 17, WHICH ARRIVED OFF THE BEACHHEAD AT NORMANDY, FRANCE ON D-DAY, JUNE 6, 1944. TRANSFERRED ON JUNE 9, 1944 TO SS GEORGE W. WOODWARD WHICH WAS ANCHORED ON BEACHHEAD OFF COAST OF NORMANDY, FRANCE WHERE HE SERVED UNTIL JULY 31, 1944 WHEN HE WAS RETURNED TO ENGLAND. AWARDED THE LEGION OF MERIT, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN RIBBON AND EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN RIBBON WITH ONE BRONZE STAR. HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON OCTOBER 10, 1945.