World War II Honoree

Donald Crandall Betts

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Guthrie Center, Iowa

Honored By

Esther Betts

Relationship

Wife

ENTERED THE U. S. NAVY THROUGH SELECTIVE SERVICE AND WAS SWORN IN MARCH 21, 1945 AT GUTHRIE CENTER, IOWA. REPORTED FOR BOOT CAMP AT NAVAL TRAINING CENTER IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. FOLLOWING BOOT CAMP, ATTENDED NAVAL TRAINING SCHOOL ENROLLING IN THE HOSPITAL MAN COURSE. TRANSFERRED TO THE U.S. NAVAL STATION AT NORMAN, OKLAHOMA. AS A HOSPITAL MAN HE ATTENDED AND CARED FOR NAVY AND MARINE PERSONNEL WHO WERE RELEASED, SOME AFTER MANY YEARS OF CONFINEMENT AS PRISONERS OF WAR OF THE JAPANESE. THEY WERE GIVEN THE BEST CARE AVAILABLE. THEY HAD 24 HOUR ACCESS TO FOOD AT ANY TIME THEY WISHED. THE HOSPITAL MEN WHO PROVIDED THIS CARE WERE CERTAINLY UNSUNG HEROES IN PERFORMING THIS DUTY. HE WAS GIVEN A WWII VICTORY MEDAL. RECEIVED AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE APRIL 4, 1946.