World War II Honoree

Andrew J. 'Pops' Oden

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

El Paso, Texas

Honored By

W. S. Stegall

Relationship

friend

ENTERED FEDERAL SERVICE INTO A SEGREGATED NAVY AND ATTENDED GREAT LAKES, ILLINOIS FOR NAVY BASIC. TRANSFERRED TO HAYWARD, CALIFORNIA'S SHORELAKE AND ASSIGNED TO THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS TICONDEROGA CV-14. HIS SHIP PARTICIPATED IN THE LEYTE OFFENSIVE PROVIDING AIR COVER WITH TF-38. WITNESSED THE CLOSING DAYS OF THE CENTRAL PACIFIC WAR FROM LUZON, PHILIPPINES TO FORMOSA AND THE BOMBARDMENT OF JAPAN. DURING THE NIGHT OF JANUARY 20-21, 1945 KAMIKAZES CRASHED THROUGH HIS SHIP'S FLIGHT DECK WITH 550 POUND BOMB EXPLOSIONS. A SECOND KAMIKAZE CRASHED SETTING MORE PLANES ABLAZE INJURING OR KILLING 344 BLUE JACKETS AND SERIOUSLY WOUNDING THEIR SHIP'S CAPTAIN. UPON JAPAN'S SURRENDER, THE CARRIER ENTERED TOKYO BAY SEPTEMBER 6, 1945 AND AFTER A STOPOVER IN PEARL HARBOR, HE DISEMBARKED AT ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA OCTOBER 5, 1945. AWARDS: NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION(RIBBON & 2 BRONZE SERVICE STARS), NAVY GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL (ONE SILVER STAR ATTACHMENT), WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND HONORABLE SERVICE BUTTON.