World War II Honoree

Vergil Gail Welch

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Bryson City, North Carolina

Honored By

Marilyn W. Cloer

Relationship

Daughter

INDUCTED INTO THE U.S. NAVY ON 12/18/43. WENT THROUGH NAVAL TRAINING SCHOOL AT BAINBRIDGE, MARYLAND. AFTER TRAINING HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE USS WISCONSIN BB-64. ON JULY 7, 1944 THE SHIP DEPARTED NORFOLK, VIRGINIA FOR A SHAKEDOWN CRUISE TO TRINIDAD, BRITISH WEST INDIES. OCTOBER 2, 1944 THE THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, PACIFIC FLEET AND DROPPED ANCHOR AT ULITHI, CAROLINE ISLANDS. ON DECEMBER 9, 1944, THE USS WISCONSIN JOINED ADMIRAL F. HALSEY'S 3RD FLEET. DECEMBER 13, 1944 ACTING AS A SUPPORT UNIT TO THE CARRIERS PERFORMING MISSION OF RENDERING JAPANESE FACILITIES AT MANILA USELESS. DECEMBER 14-16 THE MEN ONBOARD THE USS WISCONSIN EARNED THE SHIP ITS FIRST BATTLE STAR IN THE LEYTE GULF. ON DECEMBER 17, 1944 THE USS WISCONSIN ENCOUNTERED A TYPHOON IN WHICH THERE WAS A LOSS OF DESTROYERS USS HULL DD-350, USS MONAGHAN DD-354 AND THE USS SPENCE DD-512. JANUARY 3, 1945 THE USS WISCONSIN, ARMED WITH HEAVY ANTI-AIRCRAFT BATTERIES PERFORMED ESCORT DUTY FOR TF-38 FAST CARRIERS FIRING STRIKES AGAINST FORMOSA, LUZON AND NANSEI SHOTO, NEUTRALIZED THE JAPANESE FORCES THERE AND TO COVER THE UNFOLDING LINGAYEN GULF OPERATIONS. THE CREW EARNED THEIR 2ND BATTLE STAR FOR THE USS WISCONSIN IN THE LUZON OPERATION. IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 1945 THEY MOVED NORTHWARD TO STRIKE AT THE TOKYO AREA ON THE JAPANESE HOME ISLAND OF HONSHU. THIS ATTACK ON THE ENEMY'S CAPITOL WAS TO PROVIDE STRATEGIC COVER FOR THE INVASION OF IWO JIMA BY CUTTING DOWN THE JAPANESE AIR FORCE AND WRECKING INDUSTRIAL PLANTS. FEBRUARY 16, 1945 THE USS WISCONSIN SAILED TOWARDS THE JAPANESE COAST UNDER SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND AGAIN ACHIEVED COMPLETE TACTICAL SURPRISE. FEBRUARY 17,1945 THE USS WISCONSIN SUPPORTED LANDING OPERATIONS AGAINST IWO JIMA. FEBRUARY AND MARCH THE MEN ABOARD THE USS WISCONSIN EARNED HER THE 3RD BATTLE STAR FOR THE IWO JIMA OPERATIONS. MARCH 14, 1945 THE USS WISCONSIN STOOD OUT OF ULITHI FOR JAPAN. IT ELIMINATED AIRBORNE RESISTANCE FROM THE JAPANESE HOMELAND TO ALLIED FORCES INVADING OKINAWA. MARCH 17, 1945 THE CREW EARNED THE USS WISCONSIN HER 4TH BATTLE STAR FROM THE OKINAWA OPERATION. MARCH 24, 1945 ALONG WITH OTHER BATTLE WAGONS GAVE SUPPORT TO TARGETS ASHORE ON OKINAWA AND PROTECTED LANDING OPERATIONS. JULY 1, 1945 THE CREW SAILED NORTHWARD TO WAGE A TREMENDOUS PRE-INVASION CAMPAIGN OF DESTRUCTION AGAINST EVERY JAPANESE FACILITY WHICH COULD BE USED FOR PROLONGING THE WAR. JULY 15, 1945 THE CREW BOMBARDED MURORAN, HOKKAIDO AND DESTROYED STEEL MILLS AND OIL FACILITIES IN THE CITY. JULY 17, 1945 THE CREW BLASTED THE HITSCHI MIRO AREA OF THE HONSHU COAST NORTHEAST TO TOKYO. JULY TO SEPTEMBER THE CREW EARNED THE USS WISCONSIN HER 5TH BATTLE STAR. FOR ASSISTING IN THESE BATTLES HE EARNED THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 BATTLE STARS, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL WITH 2 STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, NAVY OCCUPATION MEDAL FOR ASIA, COMBAT ACTION RIBBON (RETROACTIVE), PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AND PURPLE HEART MEDAL. HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED ON DECEMBER 11, 1945 AT SHELTON, VIRGINIA.