World War II Honoree

Harlen Weir Wolfe

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Battle Creek, Iowa

Honored By

Battle Creek American Legion

ENLISTED ON SEPTEMBER 16, 1941. OVERSEAS TO PANAMA CANAL FROM APRIL 1942 TO FEBRUARY 1944. PACIFIC AREA FROM DECEMBER 1944 TO AUGUST 1945. SERVED AS A TURRET GUNNER IN A NAVY AVENGER PLANE DURING AIRCRAFT CARRIER STRIKES AGAINST THE JAPANESE. TOOK PART IN THE BOMBING AND STRAFING OF GROUNDED AIRCRAFT HANGERS, WORK SHOPS AND AIR STRIPS ON THE AIR FIELD IN THE JAPAN AREA, AIR SUPPORT OF THE IWO JIMA LANDINGS AND THE ATTACKS ON WATERFRONT AT CHICHI JIMA. WOUNDED ON JUNE 3, 1945 ON OKINAWA IN AN AIRPLANE CRASH, SEVERE BURNS. RECEIVED THE PURPLE HEART, ASIATIC-PACIFIC THEATER RIBBON, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, 9 AIR MEDALS, 2 DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSSES, AMERICAN DEFENSE MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL. PRESIDENTIAL CITATION FOR HAZARDOUS MISSION TO HACHI JIMA ON FEBRUARY 16, 1945; AIR MEDAL PRESENTED ON MARCH 20, 1947 WITH 8 GOLD STARS FOR OTHER AIR MEDALS. RE-ENLISTED FEBRUARY 1946.