World War II Honoree

John Oda Hankins

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Los Angeles, California

Honored By

Joanne Hankins

Relationship

Wife

SPENT HIS ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE ABOARD THE CRUISER, THE U.S.S. PENSACOLA, FROM JULY 1943 - APRIL 1946. HE WAS AN ELECTRICIAN'S MATE 2ND CLASS AND MANNED THE 8 INCH GUNS AT TURRET I. AS PART OF E DIVISION, THE SPARKIES, HE SERVED ON THE PENSACOLA DURING THE OPERATIONS AT THE GILBERT ISLANDS, MARSHALL ISLANDS,KURILE ISLANDS, IWO JIMA AND OKINAWA.