World War II Honoree

Gilbert Waldron

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Nashville, Tennessee

Honored By

Mitzie Wheeler

Relationship

Daughter

LEFT NASHVILLE IN OCTOBER 1942 FOR SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA FOR BOOT CAMP AND THEN ONTO HOSPITAL CORPS SCHOOL IN BALBOA PARK, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. FOLLOWING GRADUATION FROM HCS HE WENT ON TO THE NAVAL AIR STATION IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. FROM HERE, HE WAS SENT TO OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA WHERE HE SHIPPED OUT ON THE DUTCH SHIP HMS BOSTAGI TO THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. WHILE EN ROUTE, THEY WERE CUT OFF FROM THE U.S. FLEET BY THE JAPANESE. WHILE IN THE PHILIPPINES, HE HELPED CONSTRUCT FLEET HOSPITAL #114 ON THE ISLAND OF SAMAR. PRESENT WHEN GENERAL MACARTHUR CAME BACK TO THE PHILIPPINES TO THE ISLAND OF LEYTE. CAME BACK TO THE U.S. THROUGH SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. HONORABLE DISCHARGE AT MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE IN FEBRUARY 1946.