World War II Honoree

Lee Winslow Aday

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Byers, Texas

Honored By

Brenda Keel

Relationship

Niece

SERVED ON THE USS ADMIRALTY ISLANDS CVE-99. WAS INDUCTED IN DALLAS, TEXAS AND SENT TO SAN DIEGO NAVAL TRAINING STATION. BOOT CAMP FOR 8 WEEKS. SENT TO ENGINEERING SCHOOL. FROM THERE TO BREMERTON, WASHINGTON. BOARDED THE USS CASABLANCA FOR TRAINING. SHIPPED TO ASTORIA, OREGON TO BOARD A NEW AIRCRAFT CARRIER; UPON COMMISSION HEADED BACK TO SAN DIEGO TO TAKE ON PLANES AND THEN BACK TO SEATTLE FOR BOMBS AND AMMUNITION. AFTER THE INITIAL CRUISE, HE WAS PROMOTED TO FIREMAN 1ST CLASS. WENT TO THE MARSHALL ISLANDS, BACK TO HAWAII, TOOK ON MORE CREW, THEN TO SOUTH PACIFIC ISLANDS FOR DIFFERENT CAMPAIGNS. SENT TO REPLACE PLANES LOST FROM THE LARGEST CARRIER, THE USS SARATOGA. AFTER SOME TIME TRAVELING IN THAT CAPACITY, WAS TO FERRY NIGHT FIGHTERS TO NEW GUINEA. MADE SEVERAL TRIPS THERE. ONE TRIP TO AUSTRALIA TO TAKE ON SUPPLIES; NEXT MISSION WAS TO GO NORTH AND JOIN THE BATTLE GROUP MOVING FROM GUAM. A SUICIDE PLANE SUNK A SHIP ANCHORED ALONG SIDE OF HIS SHIP AT ULITHI. MOVED ON AND PREPARED FOR THE INVASION OF IWO JIMA. AFTER THAT WENT ON TO OKINAWA. FROM OKINAWA, SAILED WITH THE FLEET THAT WAS REPORTED TO BE OVER 200 MILES LONG. JAPAN COULD BE SEEN FROM HIS SHIP. WAS ORDERED TO RETURN BACK TO GUAM AND THEN ON TO THE U.S. THE WAR ENDED 2 DAYS AFTER ARRIVAL IN CALIFORNIA. CONTINUED TO GO BACK AND FORTH TO DIFFERENT PLACES AND BRING TROOPS HOME. HIS SHIP WENT TO TACOMA, WASHINGTON TO BE DE-COMMISSIONED. MACHINIST’S MATE 2ND CLASS. AWARDED THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN RIBBON, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL.