World War II Honoree

James Allen Yates

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Rinard, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

RE-ENLISTED FOR A SECOND TOUR OF DUTY IN MAY OF 1939 WITH THE STIPULATION THAT HE AND HIS BROTHER ORIN WOULD BE ASSIGNED TO THE SAME SHIP. SERVED IN THE ATLANTIC ABOARD THE NEWLY COMMISSIONED DESTROYER USS SIMS (DD-409) UNTIL THE WAR BEGAN ON 7 DECEMBER, 1941 WHEN HIS SHIP DEPARTED FOR THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS WITH TASK FORCE 17 FORMED AROUND THE FAST CARRIER USS YORKTOWN (CV-5). ELECTRICIAN’S MATE 1ST CLASS JAMES YATES, ALONG WITH 234 SHIPMATES INCLUDING HIS BROTHER, WAS KILLED IN ACTION ON MAY 7, 1942 WHEN THE SIMMS WAS SUNK BY JAPANESE AIRCRAFT DURING THE OPENING ACTION OF THE BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA. POSTHUMOUSLY AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL AND WAS ENTITLED TO THE AMERICAN DEFENSE MEDAL, THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH TWO BRONZE BATTLE STARS, AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. MEMORIALIZED AT THE MANILA AMERICAN CEMETERY, FORT BONIFACIO, MANILA, PHILIPPINES. HONORED ALSO AT THE WWII MEMORIAL IN FLORA, ILLINOIS.