World War II Honoree

James Kelly Causey

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Conway, South Carolina

Honored By

Mary Ann Carlson

Relationship

Family Friend

ASSIGNED TO THE USS WILHOITE DE-397. PRIOR TO ITS LAUNCHING AND UNTIL THE END OF THE WAR, THE USS WILHOITE RAN CONVOYS TO GIBRALTAR AND AS FAR AS BIXENTE, SOUTH AFRICA. AFTER U.S. TROOPS LANDED IN FRANCE, THE WILHOITE WAS SENT TO PICK UP THE SURVIVORS AND RETURN THEM TO NEW YORK. WHILE IN NEW YORK, THE SHIP WAS ASSIGNED ESCORT DUTY TO THE CARRIER USS BOGUE. FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE WAR, THE WILHOITE ASSISTED THE BOGUE IN ACCOMPLISHING ITS MISSION OF SEARCHING OUT AND DESTROYING GERMAN U-BOATS, THEREBY FORCING THE WITHDRAWAL OF ENEMY SUBMARINES FROM SUPPLY ROUTES ESSENTIAL FOR THE U.S. MILITARY SUPREMACY.