World War II Honoree

Walter Louis Arnold

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Irvington, New Jersey

Honored By

Richard W. Arnold

Relationship

Son

HE SERVED IN THE US NAVY ON THE ESSEX CLASS AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS LEXINGTON IN THE PACIFIC THEATER DURING WWII. AS AN AVIATION MACHINIST'S MATE 1ST CLASS, HIS ONBOARD SEA DUTIES INCLUDED ENGINE REPAIR AND SERVICE OF FIGHTING SQUADRON 16 AIRCRAFT CONSISTING MOSTLY OF F-4 HELLCATS. HE ENLISTED ON JULY 18, 1942 AND SERVED HONORABLY UNTIL JANUARY 1946. ABOARD THE 'LADY LEX', HE SAW ACTION AGAINST ENEMY JAPANESE FORCES DURING THE TARAWA, WAKE, AND GILBERT CAMPAIGNS. THE LEXINGTON AND HER CREW WERE HONORED WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION FOR EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM IN 1946. ADDITIONALLY, HE SERVED IN NEW JERSEY BY PROVIDING SERVICES FOR F-4 CORSAIR AIRCRAFT ENGINES UNTIL HIS SEPARATION FROM THE US NAVY IN 1946.