World War II Honoree

Alford Lee Gray

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Olathe, Colorado

Honored By

Joyce Hawks & Jerald Gray

Relationship

Daughter & Son

SERVED AS A HELMSMAN ABOARD THE ESCORT CARRIER, USS KITKUN BAY CVE-71 IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. FOUGHT IN THE BATTLES OF SAIPAN, TINIAN, GUAM, PELELIU, LEYTE GULF, LUZON AND THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. SURVIVED TWO JAPANESE KAMIKAZE AIRCRAFT SUICIDE ATTACKS AND AN ENEMY SUBMARINE ATTACK ON HIS SHIP. AWARDS INCLUDE THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 5 BATTLE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION RIBBON AND A PRESIDENTIAL CITATION FOR HIS VALOR IN THE HEROIC SEA BATTLE OFF LEYTE.