World War II Honoree

William John 'Billy' Hebert

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Stockton, California

Honored By

Joe Arsena

Relationship

Baseball Fan

THE FIRST PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL PLAYER TO BE KILLED IN WWII, JOINED THE NAVY AND TRAINED AT THE NAVAL AIR STATION IN ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA BEFORE MOVING ON TO THE NAVAL AIR STATION AT NORFOLK, VIRGINIA. ON JULY 14, 1942 HE LEFT FOR THE PACIFIC AND WAS ASSIGNED TO HENDERSON FIELD TO HELP KEEP NAVAL AIRPLANES SERVICEABLE. IT WAS A DANGEROUS PLACE TO BE AND REPEATEDLY CAME UNDER ATTACK FROM THE JAPANESE. WHEN THE BATTLESHIPS OF THE IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY, KONGO AND HARUNA, BOMBARDED HENDERSON FIELD THE NIGHT OF OCTOBER 13TH THEIR 14-INCH SHELLS ALL BUT DESTROYED THE PLACE AND MOST OF ITS AIRPLANES. IT WAS PROBABLY DURING THIS BOMBARDMENT THAT SUSTAINED THE INJURIES FROM WHICH HE DIED ON OCTOBER 21, 1942. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART.