World War II Honoree

Joseph Lord Watts, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Pensacola, Florida

Honored By

Joseph Lord Watts, Jr.

Relationship

Self

SERVED 1941-1945 IN THE U.S. NAVY ON THE BATTLESHIP USS NEW MEXICO BB-40 DURING WWII. PARTICIPATED IN ESCORTING TROOP TRANSPORTS TO THE FIJI ISLANDS AND THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC, DECEMBER 1942 TO MARCH 1943. PARTICIPATED IN THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS CAMPAIGN (ATTU AND KISKA). PARTICIPATED IN THE GILBERT ISLAND CAMPAIGN, SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER 1943. PARTICIPATED IN THE MARSHALL AND THE MARIANA ISLANDS OPERATIONS (KWAJALEIN, EBEYE, WOTJE, TINIAN, SAIPAN, GUAM). PARTICIPATED IN THE RE-CONQUEST OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. SHIP HIT BY A SUICIDE BOMBER OFF LEYTE BUT REMAINED IN ACTION. PARTICIPATED IN SEIZING IWO JIMA AND OKINAWA. SHIP HIT BY A SECOND KAMIKAZE BOMBER BUT REPAIRED. WITNESSED THE JAPANESE SURRENDER IN TOKYO BAY. AWARDED THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH SIX BRONZE BATTLE STARS, WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDAL AND HONORABLE DISCHARGE LAPEL PIN.