World War II Honoree

Galen Dale McCommons

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Flora, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENLISTED AND ENTERED ACTIVE DUTY ON OCTOBER 7, 1943. COMPLETED RADIOMAN TRAINING AT NAVAL TRAINING STATION IN FARRAGUT, IDAHO. THEN JOINED THE SHIP, THE USS SIGSBEE DD-502, ASSIGNED TO DESTROYER SQUADRON 25 ON JULY 5, 1944 IN THE VICINITY OF THE PHILIPPINES. IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER WAS ENGAGED IN COMBAT. SURVIVED THE APRIL 14, 1945 KAMIKAZE ATTACKS OFF OKINAWA THAT LEFT 23 OF HIS SHIPMATES KILLED IN ACTION. AWARDED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLE DISCHARGE AS RADIOMAN 2ND CLASS ON APRIL 4, 1946 AT NAVAL AIR STATION IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.