World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Elmo Marshall Hockman
Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
Cleveland, Ohio
Honored By
William, Thomas & James Hockman
Relationship
Sons
AVIATION ORDNANCEMAN 2ND CLASS. SERVED FROM NOVEMBER 10, 1942 TO AUGUST 31, 1945 AS A TURRET GUNNER IN TBF AVENGER AIRCRAFT WITH TORPEDO SQUADRON 19. AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS FOR HEROISM AND EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENT DURING THE BATTLE OF LEYTE GULF, 2 AIR MEDALS, COMBAT ACTION RIBBON, NAVY PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 4 CAMPAIGN STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, PHILIPPINE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL AND CHINA WAR MEMORIAL MEDAL. ALSO EARNED COMBAT AIR CREW WINGS, THE 'RUPTURED DUCK' HONORABLE DISCHARGE PATCH AND SHELLBACK CERTIFICATE FOR CROSSING THE EQUATOR SEPTEMBER 1, 1944. ACTION BY HIS AIR GROUP INCLUDED AERIAL STRIKES AGAINST THE JAPANESE-HELD GUAM ISLANDS (131 SORTIES), PALAU ISLANDS (93 SORTIES), BONIN-VOLCANO ISLANDS (43 SORTIES), PHILIPPINE ISLANDS (MINDANAO 76 SORTIES), VISAYANS (96 SORTIES), MANILA (40 SORTIES), LUZON (49 SORTIES), NANSEI-SHOTO GROUP, FORMOSA (49 SORTIES) AND THE PESCADORE ISLANDS AS WELL AS STRIKES AGAINST THE JAPANESE FLEET IN THE SIBUYAN SEA (6 SORTIES) AND PHILIPPINE SEA (29 SORTIES). FROM THE CARRIER USS LEXINGTON, AIR GROUP 19 DESTROYED 167 PLANES IN THE AIR AND 340 ON THE GROUND, SANK 80 SHIPS, 12 OF WHICH WERE WARSHIPS INCLUDING THE JAPANESE CARRIERS ZUIKAKU AND ZUIHO AND HEAVY CRUISER NACHI, DESTROYED OR NEUTRALIZED 216 MAJOR INSTALLATIONS, RAIDED 71 AIR FIELDS, STRUCK 10 HARBORS AND 208 GUN EMPLACEMENTS. TRAINED AT NAVAL AIR STATION, LOS ALAMITOS, CALIFORNIA AND ABOARD THE CARRIERS TRIPOLI AND FRANKLIN. DEPARTED THE U.S. FOR PEARL HARBOR ABOARD THE USS LEXINGTON, EMBARKED USS INTREPID FOR ENIWETOK, QUARTERED ABOARD USS BUNKER HILL, REDEPLOYED TO USS LEXINGTON FOR 5 MONTHS INTENSIVE COMBAT ACTION. RELIEVED BY AIR GROUP 20, BOARDED USS ENTERPRISE AT ULITHI ENROUTE BACK TO PEARL HARBOR, TRANSFERRED TO USS LONG ISLAND FOR RETURN TO U.S.