World War II Honoree

Melvin O. Barker

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Amarillo, Texas

Honored By

Edna Barker

Relationship

Granddaughter

Served from September 1942 at Corpus Christi, Texas Naval Air Station (NAS) and Waldron Field, 1 1/2 years. Transferred to Norfolk, Virginia at Mine Camp Training School. Then to Savannah, Georgia. Boarded minesweeper the USS Incredible AM-249. Escort on convoy to North Africa, then to southern coast of France for sweeping duty during the Invasion of Southern France. Sweeping duty around Sicily, Sardinia. Escort duty for Franklin D. Roosevelt through Dardanelle Straits, Bosphorus Sea into Black Sea for Big Three Yalta Conference. Returned to Norfolk in 1945, during time Germany surrendered. Ship re-outfitted, sailed south through Panama Canal to San Pedro, California. While loading ammunition, Japan surrendered, but still went to Taiwan, Shanghai, Sasebo and California. Spent two years aboard the ship and was discharged on February 28, 1946. Received the Good Conduct Ribbon, European Theater of Operations and Asiatic Theatre, Unit Citation.