World War II Honoree

Richard William Doris

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Clay City, Illinois

Honored By

Robert Medley Gatewood

ENLISTED AND ENTERED ACTIVE SERVICE AS AN APPRENTICE SEAMAN ON 12 JUNE 1944. TRAINED AS AN AIR ORDNANCEMAN AT NAVAL AIR STATION IN NORMAN, OKLAHOMA AND AS A COMBAT AIR CREWMAN AT NAVAL AIR STATION WHIDBEY ISLAND, WASHINGTON. SERVED ABOARD THE USS BON HOMME RICHARD CV-31. SAW FIRST COMBAT IN JUNE 1945 WITH FAST CARRIER FORCE 38 OF THE CAROLINE ISLANDS AT THE END OF THE OKINAWA INVASION. THEN AS A MEMBER OF THE 3RD FLEET, PARTICIPATED IN AIR OPERATIONS AGAINST THE HOME ISLANDS OF HOKKAIDO, KYUSHU, HONSHU AND SHIKIKU, JAPAN. IN PREPARATION FOR THE COMING INVASIONS UNTIL HOSTILITIES CEASED AT V-J DAY. EARNED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 2 BRONZE BATTLE STARS AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ALSO STATIONED AT A NAVAL FACILITY ON TERMINAL ISLAND AND HONORABLE DISCHARGE AS AN AVIATION MACHINIST'S MATE 3RD CLASS ON 17 JUNE 1946 AT SAN PEDRO, CALIFORNIA.