World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Chester Gray
Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
St Joseph, Missouri
Honored By
Lawrence L. Schuermann
Relationship
Friend
JOINED THE U.S. NAVY ON 22 MARCH 1944. AFTER ATTENDING BASIC TRAINING AT FARRAGUT, IDAHO, ASSIGNED TO THE USS MASSACHUSETTS BB-59 AS A STOREKEEPER APPRENTICE. PARTICIPATED IN THE BATTLE OF LEYTE GULF, PARTICIPATED IN SHORE BOMBARDMENTS OF LEYTE, LUZON, MINDORO, FORMOSA, OKINAWA AND MAINLAND JAPAN. WATCHED THE LAST 16' SALVO GO INTO JAPAN ON 9 AUGUST 1945 AS THE WAR WAS COMING TO AN END. ABOARD THE USS MASSACHUSETTS ALL THE WAY TO PRE-DECOMMISSIONING ACTIVITIES ON 22 APRIL 1946. AWARDED THE NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION RIBBON, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 5 BATTLE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND THE PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL WITH 2 STARS. HONORABLE DISCHARGE ON 22 MAY 1946.