World War II Honoree

David Nuell Eaton

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Coldwater, Kansas

Honored By

Mary Virginia Wilson Eaton

Relationship

Wife

ENLISTED IN NAVAL SERVICE ON FEBRUARY 2, 1945 AT HUTCHINSON, KANSAS. ATTENDED BOOT CAMP AT GREAT LAKES NAVAL TRAINING CENTER, ILLINOIS FROM FEBRUARY 15TH TO MARCH 31, 1945. ASSIGNED TO CAMP STONEMAN IN PITTSBURG, CALIFORNIA ON APRIL 8, 1945 AS AN APPRENTICE SEAMAN AWAITING FURTHER ASSIGNMENT. PERFORMED ARMED GUARD DUTY AT 420 MARKET STREET, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA AT HEADQUARTERS, WESTERN SEA FRONTIER. MOVED TO TREASURE ISLAND IN SAN FRANCISCO BAY ON JUNE 1, 1945 AWAITING OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENT. SAILED FROM TREASURE ISLAND ON A TROOP TRANSPORT SHIP ON AUGUST 1, 1945 AND ARRIVED AT SAMAR IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS IN MID-AUGUST. SERVED IN THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER. ASSIGNED TO THE SUPPLY AND REPAIR SHIP USS BASILAN AG-68 AS A DECK HAND, AND WAS ABOARD SHIP ON SEPTEMBER 2, 1945 WHEN THE JAPANESE FORMALLY SURRENDERED AND PRESIDENT TRUMAN ANNOUNCED V-J DAY. SAILED IN EARLY SEPTEMBER FROM THE PHILIPPINES TO OKINAWA AND ON TO INCHON, KOREA FOR OCCUPATION DUTY. IN LATE SEPTEMBER, AT INCHON, WAS REASSIGNED TO THE DESTROYER TENDER USS WHITNEY AD-4, AND SERVED ABOARD AS A MACHINIST’S MATE STRIKER. PROVIDED MACHINE SHOP SERVICES, SPARE PARTS AND REPAIR TO SHIPS ENGAGED IN THE OCCUPATION OF KOREA. REASSIGNED TO THE HEAVY-HULL REPAIR SHIP USS JASON ARH-1 IN MID-NOVEMBER AT INCHON AND SERVED ABOARD AS A GUNNER’S MATE STRIKER. PERFORMED REPAIR SERVICES AND ASSISTED IN THE EVACUATION OF JAPANESE NATIONALS. SAILED TO TSINGTAO, CHINA ON DECEMBER 1, 1945, WHERE HE TRANSFERRED TO THE DESTROYER TENDER USS BLACK HAWK AD-9 AS A SIGNALMAN STRIKER. SERVED ABOARD THE ‘GALLOPING GHOST OF THE CHINA COAST’ IN HARBOR CONTROL DUTY AND TENDING VESSELS IN CHINA. AWARDED THE CHINA SERVICE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, NAVY OCCUPATION SERVICE MEDAL AND PHILIPPINE LIBERATION MEDAL. RETURNED TO THE U.S. IN JUNE 1946 AND WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED IN JULY 1946 WITH THE RANK OF SEAMAN SECOND CLASS AT THE NAVAL AIR STATION, NORMAN, OKLAHOMA. ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.