World War II Honoree

Harold Neal Whitley

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Sapulpa, Oklahoma

Honored By

Norma Jean Whitley

Relationship

Wife

SEAMAN 1ST CLASS. SERVED ABOARD THE USS BARNES (LIGHT AIRCRAFT CARRIER) HAULING MARINES AND EQUIPMENT AS NEEDED WITH THE 3RD FLEET UNDER ADMIRAL HALSEY. SERVED IN PACIFIC, GUAM, SAIPAN, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, MARSHALL ISLANDS. USS BARNES WAS THE FIRST SHIP INTO TOKYO BAY. THERE WERE 65 JAPANESE PLANES PUT ABOARD AND TAKEN BACK TO U.S. PORT IN SAN FRANCISCO. AWARDED THE AMERICAN DEFENSE MEDAL, ASIATIC-PACIFIC MEDAL, OCCUPATION OF JAPAN MEDAL AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.